Syngonium erythrophyllum 'Red Arrow'

Species and Cultivar Background for Syngonium ‘Red Arrow’

Syngonium erythrophyllum is a wet-tropical climbing aroid native to Panama and the Chocó region of Colombia. Its range is much narrower and farther north than that of the widespread S. podophyllum.

In forest it climbs supporting vegetation with roots produced along the stem. Syngonium erythrophyllum ‘Red Arrow’ is a cultivated selection of this Central American and northwestern South American species.

Care for supported aroid vines

Growth and support: Offer a narrow moss, coir or bark support if larger, more mature leaves are wanted; trailing stems retain a smaller juvenile form. Make a pruning cut with a healthy node directly below it when branching the parent. Use a chunky but moisture-retentive aroid mix around the fine climbing roots. Water when the upper layer has dried but some moisture remains farther down, then let the pot drain fully.

Light: Give Syngonium erythrophyllum ‘Red Arrow’ strong indirect light or bright shade. Gentle early or late sun is suitable after acclimatisation, but intense midday sun can bleach the dark upper surface and mark the red-purple reverse.

Pests, Damage and Recovery

The deep green upper surface and burgundy underside are expected and should not be interpreted as phosphorus deficiency. Concern begins when the crown collapses, the stem base softens or roots turn brown in cold wet mix. Remove decayed material and bring the plant back to warmth. Give the surviving roots more air, then wait until the mix begins to dry before watering again.

Thrips hide inside the rolled dark leaves. Open a suspect roll over white paper and look for larvae, adults, tiny black droppings and rough silver scarring. Mites can appear as muted bronzing rather than obvious pale speckling on this dark foliage. Keep an infested vine apart and continue the selected treatment as fresh leaves emerge.

Strong direct sun bleaches or scorches the upper blade, while insufficient light produces longer spacing and smaller leaves. Increase filtered light gradually and add support for larger mature foliage. Older climbing leaves may become lobed or divided, so a change from the narrow juvenile arrow shape is not automatically deformation.

Syngonium erythrophyllum ‘Red Arrow’ 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.

The meaning and history of Syngonium erythrophyllum

The name Syngonium comes from Greek words meaning “together” and “reproductive organs”, referring to the united ovaries in its flowers. The epithet erythrophyllum combines Greek erythros, meaning red, with phyllon, meaning leaf, referring to the reddish leaf undersides.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Syngonium in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 780.

George Sydney Bunting first described Syngonium erythrophyllum in 1966 in Baileya, volume 14, page 17; Monroe Roberts Birdsey had proposed the name.