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Plants › Aroids

Devil's Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)

Epipremnum aureum is an evergreen climbing or trailing vine that can attach to tree trunks, rocks, supports, or walls with aerial roots and can also be grown as a hanging plant. Sources differ in describing it as a perennial evergreen plant.

LightSources differ, but bright indirect light to partial sun is preferred; the plant can also tolerate lower light for long periods, while insufficient light may reduce variegation and strong direct sunlight may scorch the l
WaterUse a well-drained growing medium and water after the surface of the potting medium has dried; keep it drier in winter and avoid prolonged excessive moisture that may cause root rot.
HumidityIt is generally reported to prefer high humidity.
TemperatureSources are few and differ, but the reported minimum is about 5 °C. Few sources report an ideal range of about 17–30 °C and a maximum of about 30 °C. It is generally reported to tolerate brief light frost.
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Devil's Ivy illustration

Overview

Epipremnum aureum is an evergreen climbing or trailing vine that can attach to tree trunks, rocks, supports, or walls with aerial roots and can also be grown as a hanging plant. Sources differ in describing it as a perennial evergreen plant.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ on its native range, with Mo'orea in the Society Islands of French Polynesia given as its origin. Its native habitat is tropical moist forest, where vines can climb tree trunks and rocks using aerial roots, and it is now naturalized in many tropical and subtropical forests worldwide. It prefers warm, humid tropical to subtropical conditions, tolerates heat but has low cold tolerance, and is also widely grown indoors as a foliage plant in temperate regions.

Characteristics

Sources differ and are few, but mature height is reported at about 0–2000 cm; few sources report a mature spread of about 100–150 cm. Leaves are alternate; juvenile leaves are generally smaller, ovate to heart-shaped, and entire, while mature climbing plants develop much larger leaves with irregular deep divisions or pinnate lobing, often glossy green with irregular yellow or creamy-white variegation. The inflorescence consists of a spadix surrounded by a spathe, and flowering is very rare in cultivation. The plant is vigorous and easy to grow, and its vines can continue elongating when given suitable support to climb.

Light

Sources differ, but bright indirect light to partial sun is preferred; the plant can also tolerate lower light for long periods, while insufficient light may reduce variegation and strong direct sunlight may scorch the leaves. It tolerates low light.

Watering

Use a well-drained growing medium and water after the surface of the potting medium has dried; keep it drier in winter and avoid prolonged excessive moisture that may cause root rot.

Humidity and airflow

It is generally reported to prefer high humidity.

Temperature and dormancy

Sources are few and differ, but the reported minimum is about 5 °C. Few sources report an ideal range of about 17–30 °C and a maximum of about 30 °C. It is generally reported to tolerate brief light frost.

Growing medium and mounting

It grows in fertile, well-drained growing medium and can adapt to clay, loam, or sandy soils under acidic, neutral, or alkaline conditions. It has aerial and soil roots.

Feeding

Fertilizer can be applied regularly during the growing season, with sources recommending either slow-release, liquid, or long-lasting fertilizer on differing schedules.

Propagation

Propagation is mainly by stem cuttings; cuttings can include nodes, and stem nodes can also be rooted in water before transplanting.

Common problems

Possible pests include scale insects, spider mites, and greenhouse thrips. Anthracnose is reported to occur under hot, humid conditions. Overwatering may cause root rot and yellow leaves; cold or dry conditions may lead to yellowing and wilting, while weak light can reduce variegation and overly strong direct summer sunlight may scorch leaves. It tolerates heat but is sensitive to cold and suits warm, frost-protected conditions; strong direct sunlight can scorch the leaves.

Identification

It climbs with aerial roots, and its leaves enlarge as the plant matures and climbs upward; juvenile leaves are generally entire and heart-shaped, while mature leaves may become deeply pinnately divided. Common plants have irregular yellow or creamy-yellow variegation on a green background.

Photos

Epipremnum aureum
📷 unknown · Public domain · source
Epipremnum aureum
📷 Joydeep · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Epipremnum aureum
📷 Chiu-Yueh Hung, Jie Qiu, Ying-Hsuan Sun, Jianjun Chen, Faroo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Sources