Pothos spp.

pothos

Araceae

Tropical Asia, Madagascar, and the western Pacific

Container Friendly

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 10–12

Overview

Pothos spp. is a genus of evergreen climbing aroids in the arum family (Araceae), native to the tropics of Asia, Madagascar, and the western Pacific. It is the source of the botanical name often misapplied to the common houseplant, which actually belongs to Epipremnum spp.. True Pothos spp. species are root climbers and scramblers of warm, humid forest, clinging to trunks and rocks by short adventitious roots and reaching several metres into the canopy. Many species have a curious leaf form in which the stalk is flattened and leaf-like, so the blade appears jointed onto a winged petiole. The leaves are leathery and deep green, varying greatly in size between species. The inflorescence is a small spadix wrapped in a short boat-shaped spathe, followed by clusters of small red to orange berries. Flowering is irregular and the small flowers are inconspicuous. The genus needs warmth, humidity, and shade, and a clear limitation is its intolerance of cold: most species are damaged below about 50 F (10 C) and are grown outdoors only in the wet tropics.

Native Range

Pothos spp. is native to tropical Asia from India and southern China through Southeast Asia to New Guinea and northern Australia, with outliers in Madagascar and the western Pacific islands. Plants grow in warm, humid lowland and montane rainforest, climbing trees and rocks in shade.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a climbing foliage plant on moss poles and slabs in tropical and subtropical gardens, conservatories, and greenhouses. In the humid tropics some species are trained up trees and shade-house posts. Plants are kept mainly for their evergreen, leathery foliage and winged leaf stalks rather than for flowers.

How to Identify

Identify Pothos spp. by its climbing, root-clinging stems and leathery leaves, many of which sit on a flattened, winged, leaf-like stalk so the blade looks hinged onto the petiole. Short roots grip the support along the stem. The small spadix-and-spathe inflorescence and later clusters of red to orange berries confirm an aroid rather than a true vine.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 20'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Flowering is irregular and tied to warmth and rainfall rather than to a fixed season, occurring at various times through the year in the tropics. The inflorescence is a small spadix within a short spathe and is easily overlooked. Pollinated flowers give way to clusters of small red to orange berries.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pale green to yellowish

Foliage Description

deep green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 1-4 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 6.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam peat

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Pothos spp. grows in warm, humid shade to part shade in moist, free-draining, humus-rich soil at a slightly acidic pH of about 5.5 to 6.5. As tropical plants they need steady warmth, with most species harmed below about 50 F (10 C), so outside the wet tropics they are kept as conservatory or greenhouse climbers. A support such as a moss pole or tree fern slab lets the clinging roots take hold. Even moisture and high humidity suit the foliage, while dry air and cold draughts cause leaf browning. Plants are propagated readily from stem cuttings with a node and aerial root. Feeding is light and regular during the warm growing season.

Pruning

Pruning is light and done in the warm season. Overlong stems are shortened above a node to keep plants within their support, and the cut pieces root readily as new plants. Dead or browned leaves are removed as they appear.