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Nephthytis Syngonium podophyllum

Phonetic Spelling
sin-GO-nee-um po-do-FIL-um
This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

The American evergreen is a tropical perennial shrub or vine in the Araceae family climbing to 6 feet. It is desired in interior settings for its low-maintenance, green or variegated, long-petioled leaves and bush-like habit with some cascading stems.  Its blooms are rare in interiors. 

The ideal location will include a warm setting with high humidity.  Avoid locations with full sun, as direct sunlight will tend to burn or bleach the foliage.  Typically a perennial, it can be grown as an annual for your containers or other bright but shady locations.  Young plants will have a shrubby habit, but as the plant ages it will take on a vine like habit.  If you wish to retain the arrowhead foliage, cut off the stems  as they begin to develop.  That will allow the plant to keep a more shrub-like habit.   Repotting every few years and trimming the root system can keep the plant managable.

Its flowers are green to greenish white and form on a spike and are encompassed by a green-white sheathing bract called a spathe.  Groups of flowers form in the leaf axils.

As the plant matures, it leaves change shape.  Its juvenile form has ovate, heart shaped leaves up to 5.5 inches long.  They may have a silvery variegation.   The adult form has arrow shaped leaves.  The leaves will eventually become pedate (having feet) and contain 5 to 11 leaflets.  There are also lobed leaves representing a transition from juvenile to adult stage. 

This plant is typically sold in its juvenile form.   Its uses include use in a hanging basket, as a ground cover, climber, or as a small shrub.

Quick ID

  • Juvenile leaf arrowhead-shaped, adult leaf lobed
  • Leaves have long petioles, are subpeltate
  • Bush-like habit with some climbing or trailing stems

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:   Watch for aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites.  Bacterial leaf spot and soft rot can occur.   

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#houseplant#interiorscape#spadix#warm climates#fantz#evergreen vine#humidity tolerant#vine#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#container plant#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#houseplant#interiorscape#spadix#warm climates#fantz#evergreen vine#humidity tolerant#vine#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#container plant#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Syngonium
    Species:
    podophyllum
    Family:
    Araceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Layering
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South America to Mexico
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Buffer
    Screening
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herb
    Houseplant
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Cascading
    Creeping
    Prostrate
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit is an egg-shaped cluster of round berries.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spadix
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Inflorescence is a spathe cluster, axillary, spadix shorter than the spathe. The spathes overlap to form a boat-shaped tube, green to yellow and white, sometimes marked with red or purple.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The juvenile leaves are alternate, simple, saggitate (arrow-shaped), acute to acuminate, and entire. They are dark green above, paler green beneath; intermediate leaves 3-lobed, median segments constricted at base, basal segment triangular. Adult leaves are pedatisect (divided), segments 3-11, confluent to free, median segment obovate to elliptic, acuminate, lowermost segment auriculate, dark green above and paler beneath. Petioles are long, green to reddish-green, subpeltate, sheathing at base.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    The stems are succulent, green, climbing, with adventitious roots.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Humidity
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Calcium oxalate crystals
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Leaves
    Roots
    Sap/Juice
    Seeds
    Stems