The illustrated growing guide
Arrowhead Plant
Syngonium podophyllum
Family Araceae
Est. zones 10-12
A fast, forgiving vine relative of pothos and philodendron — arrow-shaped leaves in pink, cream, or green that start compact and then want to climb or trail. Pinch for a bushy tabletop plant or let it vine up a moss pole for bigger, more dramatic leaves. Roots in water like a weed.
Medium to bright indirect
Moderate water
Fast growth
Deer-resistant
None winter chillI
Overview
Will arrowhead plant suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what arrowhead plant actually needs.
Hardy inZones 10-12Arrowhead Plant at a glance
Common arrowhead plant problems
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow arrowhead plant: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate arrowhead plant
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The year
What arrowhead plant asks for, month by month.
The arrowhead plant year, month by month
PruneWhat each band means
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
The arrowhead plant year as text
- Jan pruning
- Feb pruning
- Mar pruning
- Apr pruning
- May pruning
- Jun pruning
- Jul pruning
- Aug pruning
- Sep pruning
- Oct pruning
- Nov pruning
- Dec pruning
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Arrowhead Plant in the garden system
What arrowhead plant is grown for
⚠ Toxic if eatenToxic to cats/dogs (calcium oxalate)
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of arrowhead plant, ruled as a catalogue.
Best arrowhead plant varieties & cultivars
'White Butterfly', 'Pink Allusion', 'Neon Robusta' (pink), 'Berry Allusion'
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to arrowhead plantyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Questions
Arrowhead Plant questions, answered straight.
Do deer eat arrowhead plant?
Rarely — arrowhead plant is considered deer-resistant, which makes it one of the safer unfenced choices in deer country. Hungry deer in a hard winter test every rule, but it's a low-risk pick.
Is arrowhead plant safe for kids and pets?
No — treat it as toxic if eaten. Toxic to cats/dogs (calcium oxalate) Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
How do you propagate arrowhead plant?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
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Elsewhere
Where arrowhead plant sits in the library.
Monstera
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron