Syngonium podophyllum 'Strawberry milk'

Where ‘Strawberry Milk’ comes from

This pastel variety comes from Syngonium podophyllum. Wild populations grow from Mexico into tropical parts of Central and South America, using roots along the stem to climb.

Cream, pale green and blush-pink marbling sets ‘Strawberry Milk’ apart. The vine begins with simple arrowheads and may develop divided leaves after it finds support.

Looking after ‘Strawberry Milk’

Light for soft pastel foliage

Choose bright filtered light for the cream, pale green and blush-pink leaves. Direct sun can burn the palest areas. A dark position produces longer stems and less compact growth. Tip pruning keeps several leafy shoots near the pot, and a support suits a stem allowed to lengthen.

When to water ‘Strawberry Milk’

Test the mix 2 to 3 cm down and lift the container. If that layer is dry and the pot feels light, water evenly through the root ball and let it drain. Use coir or peat, bark and perlite so the mix holds some moisture and air can reach the roots. Flush the mix if mineral deposits appear.

Climate and keeping the colour balanced

Keep it between 18 and 27°C and above 15°C. Most homes provide enough humidity. Add a diluted feed when new leaves appear. Move up a pot size once the root system is crowded. For a cutting, choose a node from a shoot that has repeatedly shown the cream, green and pink mix you want. Make sure it still has enough green.

Issues that can affect ‘Strawberry Milk’

• Cream and blush areas become brown: Direct sun, prolonged dryness and fertiliser salts are common causes. Move the plant to filtered light, stabilise root moisture and rinse accumulated minerals from the mix.
• The pastel pattern becomes less distinct: Leaf-to-leaf variation is normal. New growth that is also small and widely spaced may need brighter indirect light.
• The plant wilts in wet substrate: Inspect the roots for softness or a stale smell. Remove damaged sections and repot into airy mix. If the container is light and dry, wet the root ball from edge to edge.
• New foliage has silver scars or webbing: Thrips and mites can be hard to see against mottled leaves. Check for mealybugs and scale too, isolate the vine and use a labelled treatment for the pest found.
• Soft spots spread through pale tissue: Keep leaves dry, provide airflow and remove badly affected growth with clean tools.

Syngonium podophyllum ‘Strawberry milk’ 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.