Syngonium podophyllum 'Strawberry'

Horticultural Origin and Species Background

Syngonium podophyllum ‘Strawberry’ is a horticultural name for cultivated Syngonium podophyllum. Plants grown under the name can vary while sharing the same tropical American species background.

Wild S. podophyllum occupies a broad range from Mexico through Central America into South America. In humid forest it grows as a root-climbing vine, with simple juvenile foliage giving way to increasingly divided leaves as supported shoots mature.

Growing a supported aroid

Growth and support: Grow Syngonium podophyllum ‘Strawberry’ in bright filtered light to support compact growth, firm petioles and its warm pink colouring. A little mild sun is suitable after acclimatisation, but direct midday heat can mark the coloured blades. Pinch a shoot while leaving the nearest node intact, encouraging a fuller juvenile shape, or train the vine on a narrow support to promote mature leaf development. Preserve the cultivar through cuttings that contain a healthy patterned node and its growth bud; seed and leaf-only material do not reproduce the cultivar.

Roots and substrate: Plant it in a loose aroid mix with coarse material for aeration and enough fine material to retain some moisture. Water the complete root ball once the upper portion has dried, then allow free drainage. Use substrate moisture and pot weight as the watering cues for the pink-toned foliage. As growth slows in winter, wait for a greater part of the mix to dry without leaving the roots completely dry for long.

Care Problems and Solutions

Pink-red tones or splashes should repeat in firm, normally shaped new leaves. General red-yellow stress, fine mite bronzing or rough thrips scarring has a different texture and is often accompanied by webbing, black specks or insects. Check the newest growth directly before deciding that a colour change belongs to the cultivar.

When the plant wilts above dry mix but the roots remain sound, water the root ball thoroughly. Cut away any soft root or crown tissue found in wet mix, then keep the surviving plant warm in a more open potting mix. Separate the plant and avoid wetting its leaves if a soaked-looking mark continues growing alongside distortion.

Retain nodes that consistently produce the desired colour balance and remove a plain-green shoot only if it starts replacing them. Bright filtered light supports compact growth, but abrupt direct sun burns pale areas. High fertiliser cannot force strawberry-red pigment, so judge the colour only on firm healthy new growth.

Syngonium podophyllum ‘Strawberry’ 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 Syngonium podophyllum

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.