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American evergreen

Syngonium podophyllum

Also called Arrowhead Vine, African Evergreen, Nephthytis, Arrow Head Vine, Arrowhead Plant, Goose Foot, Goosefoot Plant

American evergreen
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0

A climbing aroid vine, grown in its many variegated and green cultivars mainly as a houseplant, that needs moist air and bright, indirect light. Keep it warm, humid and watered regularly, and cut back when it gets leggy.

Family
Araceae (Arum family)
Grows as
Climber
Light
Bright indirect, Part shade
Water
Water 2-3 times a week in summer and much less in winter, letting the top of the mix dry slightly between waterings.
Soil
Humus-rich, well-draining potting mix.
Temperature
18-30 °C; keep above 0 °C and avoid summer heat above 38 °C
How easy
Easy
Safety
Toxic: All parts contain oxalic acid and raphides, causing severe mouth pain if eaten, skin burning from sap, and possible eye damage.. Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).
Native range
Mexico to Trop. America
Climate
wet tropical

About

Syngonium podophyllum is a species of aroid that is a popular houseplant. Common names include: arrowhead plant, arrowhead vine, arrowhead philodendron, goosefoot, nephthytis, African evergreen, and American evergreen. The species is native to a wide region of Latin America from Mexico through Bolivia, and naturalized in the West Indies, Florida, Texas, Hawaii, and other places.

How to grow it

As a vine, it requires some support. It can also be grown as a groundcover plant. The soil should be humus and systematically watered. Varieties with leaves with pink, reddish, or white markings require a well-lit place, though those with dark green leaves can grow in a darker place. The summer temperature should not exceed 38 °C (100 °F). In winter, it should not be lower than 0 °C (32 °F). Preferring moist air, it should be watered 2-3 times a week in summer but much less often in winter.

To ensure adequate humidity, the plant pot should be placed in a larger container with constantly moist peat and sprayed with water daily. Dusty leaves should be wiped clean with a damp cloth. Feed in the summer with a small dose of fertilizers dissolved in water. After a few years of cultivation, the plant becomes unattractive, where its cutting is advisable, and then it will produce new shoots. It should be transplanted only when necessary.

Safety

All parts of Syngonium podophyllum are poisonous and cause severe mouth pain if eaten. It is not unusual to find these growing in Sub-tropical Florida landscapes, where homeowners and Gardeners need to be aware of the severe skin burning sensations caused by the plants sap containing oxalic acid and the eye damage potential from raphides.

Other Syngonium plants

Arrow Head Vines

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Syngonium podophyllum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.

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