Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
[ep-ih-PREM-num OR-ee-um]

Evergreen Perennial (usually grown as an annual near you) Climbing Or Trailing Vine in the Araceae Family
A trouble-free trailing vine with glossy, heart-shaped leaves marbled in gold and green — one of the most popular, forgiving houseplants, thriving from bright indirect light to deep shade.

Golden Pothos is a vigorous, evergreen vining aroid native to the Society Islands of French Polynesia, now grown worldwide as one of the most popular and forgiving houseplants. Its glossy, heart-shaped leaves are marbled with irregular splashes of yellow, cream, or white, and the vine climbs by clinging aerial roots or trails gracefully from a hanging basket or shelf. Juvenile leaves (the form almost always seen on houseplants) stay a modest 2-4 inches long; when allowed to climb a support into bright light, mature leaves can grow much larger and split into deep pinnate lobes, a dramatic transformation rarely witnessed indoors.

Unusually for the arum family, Golden Pothos essentially never flowers in cultivation. A genetic impairment in its gibberellin (growth hormone) pathway blocks spontaneous flowering; the last documented unforced bloom was in 1964, and flowering can only be induced today with artificial hormone treatment. The plant is grown purely for its foliage as a result.

As with other aroids, all parts contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals and are toxic if chewed or ingested by pets or people.

Pros

  • Thrives in everything from bright indirect light to deep shade
  • Extremely low-maintenance and forgiving of inconsistent watering
  • Propagates easily from stem cuttings rooted in water
  • Attractive trailing or climbing habit suits shelves, hanging baskets, or a moss pole

Cons

  • Toxic to cats, dogs, and people if chewed or ingested (calcium oxalate)
  • Essentially never flowers, so grown for foliage only
  • Can become sparse or leggy without occasional pinching
  • Can be invasive outdoors in frost-free tropical climates
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
Highlights

One of the best-selling houseplants in the world thanks to its tolerance for neglect and low light. Leaf variegation pattern varies from plant to plant and even leaf to leaf, so no two vines look quite alike.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 6 - 10 feet tall. 3 - 6 feet wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 10a - 12b (Usually hardy to 30° F)
Tags Dry, Evergreen, Full Shade, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial
Bloom Period Non-Flowering In Cultivation
Flower Color Non-Flowering
Foliage Color
 

More Info from Experts
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 08/23
2024 : 02/08 - 07/20


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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!