Arrowhead Plant
Syngonium podophyllum · also called arrowhead vine, goosefoot plant, nephthytis, American evergreen
The arrowhead plant is an easy, fast-growing aroid with arrow-shaped leaves. Give it bright indirect light and water when the top inch of soil dries.
Syngonium podophyllum is a versatile climbing aroid from the rainforests of Central and South America, named for the distinctive arrowhead shape of its juvenile leaves. As the plant matures and climbs, the leaves change form, becoming larger and more lobed. It comes in many cultivars ranging from deep green to pink, cream-variegated, and near-white, making it a popular and inexpensive collector's plant.
Young arrowhead plants grow as upright bushy clumps, then naturally start to vine and trail as they age. This makes them flexible for hanging baskets, shelves, or training up a moss pole. They are forgiving and fast-growing, tolerating a range of light and watering conditions, which makes them excellent for beginners, though like most aroids they contain calcium oxalate and are not pet safe.
How to care for Arrowhead Plant
Light
Bright indirect light produces the best growth and the strongest variegation, but green forms tolerate medium and lower light well. Pink and white-variegated types need brighter light to hold their color. Keep it out of direct sun, which bleaches and scorches the leaves.
Watering
Water when the top inch of soil dries out, usually every 7 to 10 days, keeping the soil lightly moist but never soggy. It is fairly drought-tolerant and forgiving of occasional missed waterings. Reduce watering in winter when growth slows.
Humidity
Average household humidity is fine, but it grows lusher with humidity above 50 percent. Brown leaf tips can appear in very dry air. It adapts well and does not strictly require a humidifier.
Temperature
Keep it between 60 and 85F. Protect it from temperatures below 50F and from cold drafts, which cause leaf damage. Normal indoor room temperatures suit it well year-round.
Soil & potting mix
Use a well-draining, airy potting mix rich in organic matter; a standard aroid blend with perlite, bark, and peat or coir works well. Good drainage prevents root rot. A pot with drainage holes is important.
Feeding
Feed monthly during spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. This fast grower responds well to regular light feeding. Pause feeding in fall and winter.
Pruning & grooming
Pinch or trim the vines to keep the plant compact and bushy, or let them trail. Regular pruning encourages fuller growth and lets you control its climbing or trailing habit. Removed cuttings root easily.
Repotting
Repot every one to two years in spring as it outgrows its container, since it grows quickly and can become root-bound. Move up one pot size. Refreshing the soil keeps growth vigorous.
Propagation
Extremely easy from stem cuttings with at least one node. Root cuttings in water or moist soil; they develop roots within one to two weeks. Spring and summer give the fastest results.
Common Arrowhead Plant problems
- Yellowing lower leaves. Usually a sign of overwatering or soggy soil leading to root stress. Let the top inch dry between waterings and ensure the pot drains freely. Occasional yellowing of the oldest leaves is normal aging.
- Loss of variegation. Pink and white-variegated arrowheads fade to green in low light. Move the plant to brighter indirect light to restore color, and prune back fully green reverted stems.
- Leggy, sparse growth. Stretching with long gaps between leaves indicates too little light. Move it brighter and pinch the tips to encourage branching and a fuller shape.
Arrowhead Plant FAQ
Why are the leaves on my arrowhead plant turning yellow?
The most common cause is overwatering and soggy soil, which stresses the roots. Let the top inch of soil dry out before watering again and make sure the pot has drainage. If only the oldest, lowest leaves yellow occasionally, that is normal aging as the plant puts energy into new growth.
Does the arrowhead plant climb or trail?
It does both depending on its age and how you grow it. Juvenile plants form upright bushy clumps, then naturally begin to vine as they mature. You can let the vines trail from a hanging basket or train them up a moss pole, where the leaves grow larger and more lobed.
Is the arrowhead plant toxic to pets?
Yes. Like other aroids, Syngonium podophyllum contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause mouth and throat irritation, drooling, and vomiting if a cat or dog chews it. Keep it out of reach of pets, and trailing plants on high shelves or in hanging baskets are safer.