Appearance

Growth form

Slender stems trail from a pot or climb with support; they may extend 4 ft (1.2 m) or more.

Leaves

Glossy green leaves are heart-shaped and about 3–6 in (8–15 cm) long. New leaves may start bronze before turning green.

Look-alikes

Golden pothosEpipremnum aureum

Check new growth: heart-leaf philodendron has a separate papery sheath beside a new leaf. Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) lacks that obvious free sheath and has a groove along the leaf stalk.

Why they get mixed up · Both trail from pots and have glossy, somewhat heart-shaped leaves.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• Houseplants
• Hanging baskets
• Tropical forests

Range

Native from Mexico through tropical America, it is widely grown indoors in the United States. Outdoors, it can be grown in USDA zones 11–12.

Preferred conditions

It prefers indirect light and soil that stays lightly moist but drains well.

Growing it

Care

It tolerates low indoor light, although medium indirect light suits it better.

Propagation

Stem cuttings can root and grow into new plants. Flowers are rarely seen on indoor plants.

Toxicity

Chewing the plant can irritate and swell the mouth. It can also irritate skin and is toxic to cats and dogs.

Name and classification

About the name

Three named varieties sit within this species. A label ending in var. oxycardium refers to one of those varieties.

Varieties and forms

'Brasil' has striped leaves. 'Lemon Lime' is another named form with light green leaves.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

LCLeast Concern·Low risk of extinction

Culture and stories

Culture and stories

• Its scientific name alludes to ivy because it climbs, although it is a different plant from English ivy.