Arrowhead plant with pale green arrow-shaped leaves — Photo: Obsidian Soul · CC0

Arrowhead plant care

Syngonium podophyllum · Araceae

Also called Arrowhead vine, Nephthytis, African evergreen.

By the Greenie team · Fact-checked October 5, 2026

A climbing aroid from the rainforests of Mexico, Central and South America. Young plants form a bushy clump of arrow-shaped leaves, often marked with silver, cream or pink; older stems start to climb or trail and the leaves divide into several leaflets. It is easy to grow in warm rooms with bright, indirect light.

Toxic to pets Easy care Fast growing

Light

Bright Indirect

Watering

Weekly

Difficulty

Easy

Pets

Toxic to cats and dogs

Height indoors

0.3-1.8 m

GrowthUnconfirmed

Fast

TemperatureUnconfirmed

18-27 °C

Not below 15 °C

Humidity

50% - 70%

Likes humid air

Soil pHUnconfirmed

5.5-6.5

Slightly acidic soil

Native to

Mexico
Belize
Guatemala
El Salvador
Honduras
Nicaragua
Costa Rica
Panama
Colombia
Venezuela
Guyana
Suriname
French Guiana
Ecuador
Peru
Bolivia
Brazil
Trinidad & Tobago
Aruba
Curaçao
Caribbean Netherlands

Through the year

Water when the top 2 to 3 cm of soil are dry; cut back from autumn to late winter.

Spring
Weekly
Repot and trim back long stems as growth resumes.
Summer
Weekly
Water regularly and keep the air humid.
Autumn
Every 2 weeks
Stop feeding and let the soil dry a little more.
Winter
Every 2 weeks
Keep it warm and away from cold windows; water sparingly.

Feeding

Every 4 weeks in spring and summer. Balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Do not feed in winter.

Care tips

Choose the shape you want
Pinch out climbing stems to keep a bushy plant with arrow leaves, or give it a moss pole to climb.
Wear gloves when pruning
The sap can irritate skin.
Raise humidity
Stand the pot on a tray of wet pebbles or keep it in a humid room.
Root the cuttings
Stem pieces with a node root quickly in water.

Common problems

Bleached or burnt leaves

What you seeLeaves lose their colour or develop dry brown patches.

What to doMove it out of direct sun to bright, filtered light.
Bacterial leaf spot

What you seeDark, water-soaked spots with yellow halos appear on the leaves.

What to doRemove affected leaves, keep the foliage dry and improve air flow.
Mealybugs

What you seeWhite, cottony clusters in leaf joints and along stems.

What to doDab them with alcohol on a cotton swab and treat with insecticidal soap.

Pets

Is arrowhead plant safe for cats and dogs?

Toxic to cats and dogs. Contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals; chewing causes mouth pain, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing.

Houseplants the ASPCA lists as safe for cats and dogs

Good to know

The leaves change shape as the plant ages, from a simple arrow to a hand-like leaf divided into as many as 11 leaflets.
Outside its native range it has naturalised in Florida, Hawaii and other warm places.