Golden Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Family Araceae
Golden pothos has probably survived more neglectful owners than any plant on earth. Marbled gold-and-green vines trail ten feet and more off a shelf, root in a glass of water, and turn a dim apartment corner into something quietly alive.
For a first houseplant there is no safer bet: it tolerates low light, forgives forgotten waterings, and openly wilts to tell you it's thirsty, then bounces back in hours. Just hang it beyond the reach of chewing pets and let it pour.
Low to bright indirect — the most forgiving houseplant
Low water
Fast growth
Deer-resistant
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing golden pothos? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries golden pothos — Epipremnum aureum, print Nº 209, “Golden Pothos.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what golden pothos actually needs.
Hardy inZones 10-12Golden Pothos · Common problems
Common golden pothos problems
Pests
2 problems on file
- Mealybugs (rare)
- Fungus Gnats
Diseases
1 problem on file
- Root Rot (overwatering)
Golden Pothos · Growing & propagation
Growing golden pothos
- Light
- Low to bright indirect
The most forgiving houseplant
- Water
- Low
Let it dry fully; survives neglect
Soil- Any well-drained potting mix · pH 6.0 - 7.0
Fertilizer- Monthly light feed in growing season, optional
Pruning- Anytime
Trim runners anywhere — every cutting roots in water in a week.
Spacing- One per pot
How to plant & propagate golden pothos
- Propagate
- Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups
Golden Pothos · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Golden Pothos · Yearly calendar
The golden pothos year, month by month
Jan
PruneJanuary to December
PrunePruneJanuary to December
What each band means
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
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.
Golden Pothos · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Epipremnum aureum
Golden Pothos in the garden system
Moisture- Upland / dry
- Deer
- Resistant
A safer unfenced choice
Origin- Introduced
What golden pothos is grown for
⚠ Toxic if eatenToxic to cats/dogs (calcium oxalate)
Use- Trailing shelves
- Use
- Water propagation
- Use
- Offices
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.
Golden Pothos · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a golden pothos variety
'Golden'; 'Marble Queen' (white variegation, slower); 'Neon' (chartreuse); 'Jade'
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Golden Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Epipremnum aureum
- Plant family
- Araceae
- Growth habit
- Houseplant · Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- EPAU
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
for Golden Pothos
Research from these sources
Publisher marks identify sources, not sponsorship or endorsement.
Questions
Golden Pothos questions, answered straight.
Do deer eat golden pothos?
Rarely — golden pothos 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 golden pothos 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 golden pothos?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
Elsewhere
Where golden pothos sits in the library.
Monstera
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron
Fiddle-Leaf Fig