Fauna
Plant

Golden Pothos

Epipremnum aureum

Also 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
Golden Pothos reference1 / 7
(c) Forest and Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Scale insects
  • Mealybugs
  • Spider mites
ThreatsNone; widely naturalized and commercially abundant
HabitatsTropical rainforests, urban gardens, indoor spaces
Life spanPerennial (decades)
Classification
  1. OrderAlismatales
  2. FamilyAraceae
  3. GenusEpipremnum
  4. SpeciesEpipremnum aureum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. 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.
Related species
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