Epipremnum aureum

Natural range and habitat of Epipremnum aureum

Epipremnum aureum is native to Mo‘orea in the Society Islands of French Polynesia. It is a tropical forest climber and has also become naturalised in many warm regions outside its native range.

Everyday care for Epipremnum aureum

• Training: Let the stems trail, or tie them to a textured support to encourage larger leaves.
• Light: Bright indirect light gives compact, steady growth. It tolerates medium light, but deep shade produces weaker, more stretched vines.
• Temperature: Keep the plant between about 18 and 28 °C during normal growth, with protection from sustained temperatures below 10 °C. Keep it away from cold draughts.
• Humidity: Average household humidity is usually sufficient; aim for 50–60%. Good air movement is useful where humidity is higher.
• Water: Wait until the upper part of the mix has started to dry, then water thoroughly and drain the pot.
• Potting mix: Choose an open, well-drained mix that still holds some moisture between waterings.
• Feeding and slower growth: Feed lightly while growth is active. If leaf and stem growth slow under lower light or cooler conditions, pause feeding and water less often when the mix takes longer to dry.
• Repotting: Repot once roots are crowded.
• Propagation: Node cuttings root readily in water or a suitable propagation mix.

Problems to watch for

• Several yellow leaves while the mix is still wet: Reduce watering frequency and inspect the roots if the plant continues to decline.
• Soft dark stem or root tissue: Remove rotted material, improve drainage and take cuttings from healthy nodes if the root system is badly affected. Use a clean, disinfected blade to cut back to firm, healthy tissue, and discard all rotten material you remove.
• Pale, stretched new growth: Move the plant to brighter indirect light and shorten bare stems to encourage a fuller plant.
• Sticky residue, cottony clusters or fine webbing: Inspect for scale, mealybugs or spider mites, isolate the plant, and use a treatment labelled for the identified pest and indoor ornamentals. Repeat only at the interval stated on the label.

Epipremnum aureum is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

About the name Epipremnum aureum

Epipremnum combines Greek epi, meaning upon, with premnon, meaning tree trunk, referring to the way the vine attaches to a support.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Epipremnum in 1857 in Bonplandia (Hannover), volume 5, page 45.

Jean Jules Linden and Édouard-François André first described it as Pothos aureus in 1880 in L’Illustration Horticole, volume 27, page 69. George Sydney Bunting later placed it in Epipremnum as Epipremnum aureum in 1964 in Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, volume 50, page 28.