Scindapsus pictus 'Black Mamba'

About 'Black Mamba' and the wild range of S. pictus

The name 'Black Mamba' is used for a very dark form of Scindapsus pictus. Its species grows naturally in wet tropical forests of Thailand and southeastern Bangladesh, with populations also on the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi and the Philippines.

Growing 'Black Mamba' indoors

• Support: A broad board or coarse pole gives the climbing roots regular contact with the surface and keeps the dark foliage spread along the vine.
• Light: Place the vine where bright filtered light reaches its full length.
• Watering: Wait until the top of the mix is dry and the pot feels lighter, then water thoroughly and let it drain completely.
• Potting mix: Choose a chunky organic mix with bark or coarse coco chips for structure and pumice or perlite for drainage.
• Temperature and humidity: Warm indoor temperatures around 18–29°C suit S. pictus. Typical room humidity is suitable. Keep some air moving around the textured foliage.
• Feeding: Feed as directed on the fertiliser label while new leaves and roots are forming. When cooler or dimmer conditions slow the vine, wait to fertilise again until growth restarts.
• Repotting: Repot when roots fill the pot or the potting mix starts draining slowly.
• Propagation: Take a stem cutting with a firm, healthy leaf joint (node) and root it in warm, lightly moist mix.

Issues to watch for with 'Black Mamba'

• A firm dark leaf suddenly develops a soft, wet-looking patch: Isolate the plant promptly. Remove soft, spreading tissue with a clean, disinfected tool, discard the affected material and keep the remaining foliage dry while you watch for further damage.
• Deep-green lower leaves yellow while the potting mix stays wet: Check the roots for decay. With a clean, disinfected tool, trim away soft brown roots until only firm, healthy roots remain. Discard the removed roots and repot in fresh, free-draining potting mix.
• Very dark leaves wilt or turn dull grey-brown after cold exposure: Keep the plant in a warm room with a steady temperature. Check the mix before watering and wait until the top has dried and the pot feels lighter. Remove leaves or stem sections that stay soft or turn grey-brown.
• Fine webbing, pale speckles, scraped or silvery marks, bumps or cottony material appear: Check carefully for mites, thrips, scale and mealybugs. Isolate the plant, then use a product labelled for the identified pest on indoor plants and follow the label's repeat schedule.

If the cause remains unclear, send clear photos of the whole plant, the affected leaves and the potting mix so we can help assess what is happening.

Scindapsus pictus ‘Black Mamba’ 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.

Scindapsus pictus: where the name comes from

Scindapsus comes from the ancient Greek plant name skindapsos. The Latin adjective pictus means painted, decorated or coloured, referring to the patterned foliage of the species.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Scindapsus in 1832 in Meletemata Botanica, page 21.

Justus Carl Hasskarl first described Scindapsus pictus in 1842 in Tijdschrift voor Natuurlijke Geschiedenis en Physiologie, volume 9, page 164.