Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Epipremnum aureum is a trailing or climbing species in the arum family Araceae, native to Mo'orea in the Society Islands of French Polynesia. It is one of the most widely sold houseplants in the world and is known by many common names — golden pothos, Ceylon creeper, hunter's robe, ivy arum, devil's vine, devil's ivy, and money plant. The names devil's vine and devil's ivy come from the plant's reputation for staying green even when kept in low light. It is sometimes mislabelled as a Philodendron or Scindapsus in stores.

Pothos has heart-shaped, glossy leaves that are commonly variegated in cream, yellow, or pale green; popular cultivars include 'Golden', 'Marble Queen', 'Neon', and 'Pearls and Jade'. As a young houseplant it trails happily from a hanging pot or shelf, and given a moss pole and bright light it will climb and develop progressively larger leaves. It rarely flowers in cultivation; one of the last spontaneous flowerings recorded was in 1964.

In care terms, pothos is generally tolerant of low to bright indirect light and irregular watering. It prefers the soil to dry partway down between waterings; the leaves often droop slightly when thirsty and recover within hours of being watered. It is not fussy about humidity, accepts ordinary household temperatures, and grows readily from stem cuttings rooted in water or soil. Pothos has earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Like many aroids, pothos contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals and is considered toxic to cats and dogs if chewed; it can cause oral irritation, drooling, and vomiting.