Syngonium podophyllum 'Aureum'

Where ‘Aureum’ comes from

Syngonium podophyllum grows naturally from Mexico across tropical America. This wet-tropical vine roots in the ground and climbs through nearby vegetation.

‘Aureum’ grows in the same way beneath its gold markings. Young plants carry simple arrowheads, and older supported stems can develop divided leaves.

Care for Syngonium podophyllum ‘Aureum’

Light and golden variegation

Choose bright filtered light for the green-and-gold leaves. Strong direct sun can burn yellow tissue, and deep shade produces weak, widely spaced growth. Keep leaves with a good area of green. Attach a strong stem to a pole if you want larger leaves.

Keeping the roots evenly supplied

Water once the top 2 to 3 cm has dried and the pot feels lighter. Soak the mix thoroughly, then let it drain. A peat- or coir-based mix with bark and perlite stays lightly moist and leaves air around the roots. Reduce frequency in cooler or darker periods.

Feeding, cutting back and repotting

A range of 18 to 27°C suits ‘Aureum’. Aim for 40 to 60% humidity. Feed lightly as new leaves form. Flush the mix with plain water if salts collect. A long stem can be shortened just above a node. Repot only after roots fill the container. For a cutting, choose a healthy node from a stem that has produced gold markings more than once and still has plenty of green.

Troubleshooting Syngonium ‘Aureum’

• Yellow areas turn brown: Golden tissue is easily damaged by direct sun, prolonged dryness and fertiliser salts. Move the plant out of harsh light, steady the watering cycle and flush deposits from the substrate.
• Growth becomes weak with very little green: Green tissue supplies the vine with energy. Preserve balanced leaves and cut a failing pale shoot back to a healthier node.
• Leaves yellow in a damp pot: Check for soft dark roots and stale-smelling mix. Remove failed tissue and repot into a porous substrate. A limp plant in a light pot needs water, not root work.
• New leaves emerge misshapen: Examine the growing point for thrips and mites. Mealybugs and scale may sit along the veins or stalk. Separate the plant and match any treatment to the pest found.
• Tan marks keep growing: Fixed dry scorch records old damage. Soft or translucent lesions that enlarge require isolation, dry foliage and clean removal of the worst leaves.

Syngonium podophyllum ‘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.

How the name Syngonium podophyllum came about

The name Syngonium comes from Greek words meaning “together” and “reproductive organs”, referring to the united ovaries in its flowers. The species name podophyllum means “foot-leaved”, a reference to the foot-like arrangement of mature leaf divisions.

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

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott first described Syngonium podophyllum in 1851 in Botanische Zeitung (Berlin), volume 9, page 85.