Pothos is a low-maintenance, herbaceous perennial, broadleaf evergreen houseplant in the arum family (Araceae) grown for its glossy, green or variegated leaves on cascading stems. It is native to the Society Islands. It grows only 6 to 8 feet as a horizontal groundcover, but the trailing and climbing vines can grow as long as 40 feet. This feature makes it well-suited for hanging baskets. As a container plant, it generally retains its juvenile leaf shape. The species epithet is Latin for "golden." Pothos is very easy to grow. It prefers bright, indirect light and survives for long periods in low light. Use a humidifier or place the plant container on a tray of wet pebbles to increase humidity, and let the well-drained potting medium dry out between watering. Fertilize every other month except when the plant is dormant in the winter. Wipe down the leaves occasionally with a soft rag to remove any collected dust. Over time, leaves will yellow and fall off, concentrating most of the leaves at the end of the stems. Prune stems back to maintain a bushy habit. Vines easily root in water. They climb by brown aerial roots. If given a support on which to climb and adequate light, the plant will begin to produce large, mature leaves. In the recent past, Epipremnum aureum was treated as a cultivar of Epipremnum pinnatum and given the name E. pinnatum ‘Aureum’. After further study, botanists determined that the two have distinctively different vegetative features and should be recognized as separate species. Plants formerly called E. pinnatum 'Aureum' are now correctly called E. aureum . It is distinguished from Philodendron hederaceum by the absence of conspicuous free stipules on new growth and by the grooved petioles. Quick ID Hints: Indoor vine with glossy, heart-shaped leaves variegated with yellow No free stipules on new growth Petioles are grooved Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Root rot and blackening of the leaf margins can occur with overwatering. Low light can cause loss of variegation. Monitor for mealybugs and scales. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 8 in. | Width: 13 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Creeping; Spreading
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Variegated; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Deltoid; Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery; Smooth
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves heart-shaped to elliptic-ovate, glossy medium green variegated with paler green underside. Veins may be reddish. Alternate, simple, sheathing, cordate, acuminate, cordate base, entire, coriaceous, glossy, green or green variegated yellow, cream to white, 3-4 in long. Petioles slender, shorter than leaf blade, and grooved to clasp the stem; stipule fused to petiole, free edges whitish, turning brownish, drying & dropping.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Purple/Lavender
Flower form
Spadix
Flower detail
Rarely flowers in a spadix surrounded by a spathe. Spadix shorter than spathe, stout; spathe boat-shaped, not forming tube, yellow to green or purple.
Fruit color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit detail
Red-orange when ripe. Houseplants rarely if ever produce fruits.
Stem color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Variegated; White
Stem detail
Stems green and striped with white or yellow. Slender, with adventitious roots.