Syngonium podophyllum 'Regina Red'

Lineage and natural origin of Syngonium podophyllum 'Regina Red'

‘Regina Red’ belongs to a documented tissue-culture lineage in Syngonium podophyllum. It arose from a selfed ‘Pink Allusion’, itself selected from ‘White Butterfly’.

The species occurs naturally from Mexico through tropical America.

Care for Syngonium podophyllum 'Regina Red'

Place 'Regina Red' in bright filtered light and temperatures around 18–27 °C, away from cold draughts and harsh direct sun. Humidity around 40–60% suits indoor growth. A room humidifier can help in dry air.

Water when the pot feels lighter and the mix around the roots has dried slightly, with some moisture remaining below the surface. You can check moisture deeper in the mix with a wooden stick. Water throughout the pot, allow excess water to drain and empty runoff.

Use free-draining houseplant mix in a container with drainage holes. Check the root ball if roots emerge at the base or the pot dries unusually fast. Once roots tightly fill the pot, repot the plant in a slightly larger container with fresh mix.

Feed lightly about monthly during active growth, following the balanced fertiliser's label. Pause feeding when growth stops and water less often as the mix takes longer to dry. Older stems can trail or be tied loosely to a support. Pruning with clean scissors can help retain a compact plant with juvenile foliage.

Problems and solutions for Syngonium podophyllum 'Regina Red'

• Wilt while the mix stays wet: Empty standing water and pause watering. If wilting persists, inspect the roots. Firm roots can remain intact while the mix dries slightly. If the plant has soft, collapsing roots, isolate it and keep water draining from its pot away from nearby plants. Cut decay back to healthy tissue with disinfected tools, disinfecting between cuts and afterwards. Discard rot and affected mix; repot the remaining plant in fresh mix and a new pot with drainage holes. You may need to discard the plant if both roots and stems are extensively decayed.
• Fine stippling and webbing: Inspect beneath leaves with magnification or tap foliage over white paper for moving mites. Isolate affected plants and inspect those nearby. Rinse infested foliage weekly while mites remain, bag heavily infested leaves and clean hands and tools. Check new leaves for returning mites.
• White fluff or sticky deposits: Check leaf undersides, stem joints and the base for mealybugs. Separate an infested plant, rinse foliage and remove visible insects with tweezers or a damp swab. Recheck weekly and repeat removal. Persistent colonies may need a treatment labelled for mealybugs on indoor ornamental plants, following repeat intervals and plant-safety precautions.

Syngonium podophyllum ‘Regina Red’ 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.