Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Arrowhead Plant.
Syngonium podophyllum
Pronounced sin-GO-nee-um po-do-FIL-lum
Also known as African evergreen, American Evergreen, Arrow-Head Vine, Arrowhead Plant, Arrowhead Vine, Arrowhead plant, Arrowhead vine, Arrowhead philodendron, Goosefoot, African evergreen, American evergreen, Nephthytis, Emerald jewel, Goose Foot, Goosefoot-plant
The Arrowhead Plant is a charming tropical vine known for its changing leaf shape as it matures. It is a popular choice for indoor spaces because it is quite adaptable and easy to grow. You will love how its trailing stems look in a hanging basket or climbing up a small trellis.
At a glance
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Tropical evergreen vine
- Light
- Bright indirect light is best, though it tolerates medium light well.
- Indoor light
- bright-indirect
- Water
- Every 5 to 10 days
- Mature size
- 150 cm tall
- Growth rate
- fast
- Hardiness
- USDA 10 to 12
- Bloom time
- Rarely blooms indoors
Care
Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root rot. Watch for drooping leaves, which often signal that the plant is thirsty. Wipe the leaves occasionally to keep them dust free and healthy.
- Watering
- Water when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry to the touch.
- Feeding
- Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
- Pruning
- Trim back long stems to encourage a bushier, fuller appearance.
- Repotting
- Repot when the plant becomes root bound or the soil loses its structure.
- Soil
- Well draining peat based potting mix
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 7.0
- Temperature
- 15 to 24°C
- Humidity
- 40 to 60%
- Drought tolerance
- low
- Lifespan
- Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years.
- Deer and rabbits
- low
Signs it needs repotting
- Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
- Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
- Stunted growth despite proper care.
Safety
- People
- All parts of the plant contain calcium oxalate crystals that cause burning and swelling of the mouth and throat if eaten.
- Pets
- This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested, causing irritation and swelling.
- Children
- Keep this plant out of reach of children because chewing on the leaves causes immediate pain and potential airway swelling.
- Contact allergens
- The milky sap can cause skin irritation or contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
- Airborne allergens
- There are no notable airborne allergens associated with this plant.
- Edibility
- This plant is toxic if ingested and can cause significant oral irritation.
How to identify it
- Arrow shaped juvenile leaves
- Leaves become lobed with maturity
- Trailing or climbing growth habit
- Variegated patterns common in cultivars
- Height
- 0.3 to 1.5m
- Spread
- 0.3 to 0.6m
- Leaves
- green, white, cream, evergreen
- Flowers
- white, green, 5 to 10cm
Common problems
- Spider mites — Tiny pests that create fine webbing and cause stippling on the leaves.
- Root rot — Fungal decay caused by consistently waterlogged soil.
- Leaf spot — Bacterial or fungal infections appearing as dark, water soaked lesions.
Growing it
- Propagation
- cuttings, division
- When to plant
- spring, summer
- Overwintering
- Keep the plant in a warm spot away from cold drafts or heating vents. Reduce watering slightly during the winter months as growth slows down.
- In containers
- It grows very well in containers and prefers a pot with drainage holes that is at least 6 inches wide.
Stem Cuttings
- Cut a stem section that includes at least one node.
- Place the cutting in a jar of water or moist potting mix.
- Wait for roots to develop before transplanting into soil.
Group plants with similar water needs to make maintenance easier.
Grows well with
- Peace Lily — They share similar moisture and light requirements.
- Pothos — Both are easy care vining plants that look great together.
- Ferns — Ferns provide a nice textural contrast and love the same humidity.
Keep away from
- Succulents — Succulents require much drier soil and higher light than this plant.
Similar species
- Philodendron — They have a similar vining habit and leaf shape.
- Monstera — Both are climbing aroids that thrive in similar indoor environments.
Science
- Family
- Araceae
- Genus
- Syngonium
- Order
- Alismatales
- Class
- Liliopsida
- Native range
- Central and South America.
- Conservation
- This species is not currently listed as endangered, but it is considered invasive in some tropical regions outside its native range.
In the wild, it uses aerial roots to climb trees in humid rainforests to reach the canopy.
- Uses
- Indoor ornamental, Hanging basket specimen, Terrarium plant
Through the year
Ecological indicators
- Salinity
- 2/9
- Soil reaction
- 6/9
- Light
- 4/9
- Temperature
- 7/9
- Moisture
- 6/9
- Nutrients
- 5/9
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Questions people ask
- Why are my leaves turning yellow?
- Yellowing leaves often indicate overwatering or poor drainage.
- How often should I water it?
- Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
- Does it need high humidity?
- It appreciates extra humidity but adapts well to average home conditions.
Where the name comes from
The name Syngonium refers to the fused ovaries of the flowers, while podophyllum describes the leaf structure.
Good to know
- It is commonly called the arrowhead plant because of its distinct leaf shape.
- The genus name Syngonium comes from the Greek words for joined ovaries.
- It is a hemiepiphyte, meaning it starts life in the soil and climbs trees to reach more light.
- It can tolerate lower light levels than many other tropical houseplants.
Is your arrowhead plant looking unwell?
This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.
This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.