Plant · GBIF taxon 2867866
Goosefoot-plant
Syngonium podophyllumAlso known as Arrowhead Vine, Arrowhead Plant, Nephthytis, African Evergreen
Arrowhead vines start life as creeping groundcover with distinctive arrow-shaped leaves before climbing trees into the canopy, where mature leaves split into complex multi-lobed forms. Native to tropical American rainforests, this vigorous grower uses aerial roots to anchor onto host trees while adapting seamlessly to low-light indoor environments. Outside its native range, escaped foliage quickly smothers native understory plants in humid subtropical climates.
Climbing VineHouseplantTropical
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Mealybugs
- Spider Mites
- Scale Insects
ThreatsHabitat loss in native range; invasive in non-native tropical environments
HabitatsTropical rainforests, humid woodlands, urban gardens, indoor spaces
Life spanPerennial (10–20+ years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAlismatales
- FamilyAraceae
- GenusSyngonium
- SpeciesSyngonium podophyllum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals; toxic to humans and pets if ingested.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause oral pain, burning, swelling, and drooling if chewed.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Identified by arrow-shaped juvenile leaves, trailing stems, and milky white sap released when stems are cut.
- What to do
- Position pots out of reach of domestic pets and wash hands immediately after pruning.
Responsible observation
- Light Exposure: Provide bright, indirect light indoors to maintain leaf variegation and healthy growth.
- Pruning Safety: Wear gloves when cutting stems to prevent skin irritation from the milky sap.
- Invasive Control: Avoid planting outdoors in frost-free regions where vines can smother local habitats.
Similar Houseplant (c) Brittany Savoie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Brittany Savoie · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) Forest and Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Jacqui Geux, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jacqui Geux · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Aitor, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Aitor · cc-by
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