Plant · GBIF taxon 2868323
Golden Pothos
Epipremnum aureumAlso known as Devil's Ivy, Money Plant, Hunter's Robe, Ceylon Creeper
Golden pothos climbs forest trees using stout aerial roots, producing glossy, heart-shaped leaves that can grow up to a meter long in mature wild forms. Widely cultivated across the globe as an unkillable houseplant, it thrives in dim light and forgiving indoor conditions. In warm outdoor ecosystems where it has escaped, this aggressive vine blankets forest floors and scales high canopies, blocking light from native trees.
ClimbingHouseplantTropical
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Scale insects
- Mealybugs
- Spider mites
ThreatsNone; widely naturalized and commercially abundant
HabitatsTropical rainforests, urban gardens, indoor spaces
Life spanPerennial (decades)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAlismatales
- FamilyAraceae
- GenusEpipremnum
- SpeciesEpipremnum aureum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains calcium oxalate crystals; toxic to pets and humans if ingested, causing oral pain and swelling.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that pierce mucosal tissue, causing intense oral burning, swelling, and drooling if chewed.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by yellow and green variegated heart-shaped leaves growing along flexible trailing stems.
- What to do
- Keep potted plants elevated out of reach of pets, and wash hands after pruning stem cuttings.
Responsible observation
- Indoor Placement: Position in bright, indirect light and allow soil to dry between waterings.
- Pet Precaution: Hang baskets high or trim trailing stems to keep foliage away from pets.
- Outdoor Management: Avoid outdoor planting in tropical regions to prevent invasive forest spread.
Look-alike (c) Brittany Savoie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Brittany Savoie · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) Skjold Søndergaard, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Skjold Søndergaard · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Jacqui Geux, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jacqui Geux · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Tim, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Species set Pro
Windowsill Flora
Golden Pothos is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
Unlock to track progress
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.