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Plants › Aroids

Devil's Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)

Epipremnum aureum is a perennial evergreen vine that climbs or trails, attaching to supports with aerial roots and also growing in a hanging habit.

LightBright indirect light or partial sun is suitable, and the plant also tolerates lower light; prolonged strong direct sunlight may scorch leaves, while insufficient light may reduce variegation. It is generally reported to
WaterWater after the surface of the growing medium or potting soil dries, use a well-drained medium, keep it somewhat drier in winter, and avoid persistently wet conditions that can cause root problems.
HumidityIt is generally reported to prefer high humidity.
TemperatureSources differ on the lower temperature threshold, reported at about 5 °C, and limited sources place the ideal range at about 17–30 °C and the upper temperature at about 30 °C. USDA and RHS hardiness classifications are
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Devil's Ivy illustration

Overview

Epipremnum aureum is a perennial evergreen vine that climbs or trails, attaching to supports with aerial roots and also growing in a hanging habit.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ on its native range: multiple sources regard Mo'orea in the Society Islands of French Polynesia as native, while some horticultural and language-version sources report the Solomon Islands or Southeast Asia. It is reported to grow in humid tropical forests, including shaded settings, where aerial roots attach to tree trunks, rocks, or other supports. It is associated with warm, relatively humid tropical to subtropical environments and has low cold tolerance.

Characteristics

Sources differ on mature height, with estimates of about 400–2000 cm, while limited sourcing reports a mature spread of about 100–150 cm. It is generally reported to grow quickly. Leaves are alternate; juvenile plants usually have entire ovate to heart-shaped leaves, while mature climbing plants develop substantially larger leaves with irregular deep divisions or pinnate splitting, and the bright green leaves commonly bear yellow, creamy yellow, or white variegation. Sources differ in their descriptions of flowering; the inflorescence is a spadix enclosed by a spathe, flowering is very rare in cultivation, and application of gibberellin can induce flowering.

Light

Bright indirect light or partial sun is suitable, and the plant also tolerates lower light; prolonged strong direct sunlight may scorch leaves, while insufficient light may reduce variegation. It is generally reported to tolerate bright indirect light.

Watering

Water after the surface of the growing medium or potting soil dries, use a well-drained medium, keep it somewhat drier in winter, and avoid persistently wet conditions that can cause root problems.

Humidity and airflow

It is generally reported to prefer high humidity.

Temperature and dormancy

Sources differ on the lower temperature threshold, reported at about 5 °C, and limited sources place the ideal range at about 17–30 °C and the upper temperature at about 30 °C. USDA and RHS hardiness classifications are reported for the plant. It is generally reported to tolerate brief light frost.

Growing medium and mounting

Use a well-drained, fertile growing medium; the plant adapts to various soil textures and pH conditions, and the medium should remain moist without becoming waterlogged. It is generally reported to have aerial and soil roots.

Feeding

Fertilizer can be applied regularly during the growing season, with sources describing different recurring feeding schedules, including liquid fertilizer.

Propagation

Propagation is mainly by stem cuttings using sections with nodes; stem nodes can also be rooted in water before transplanting.

Common problems

Scale insects, spider mites, and greenhouse thrips may occur. Anthracnose is reported to occur, with greater risk under hot, humid conditions. Overwatering can lead to root rot; cold or dry conditions may cause yellowing and wilting; excessive direct sunlight may scorch leaves; and insufficient light may reduce variegation. The plant tolerates heat but has weak cold tolerance, so frost and prolonged low temperatures should be avoided; a sudden move from low light into strong sunlight may also damage leaves.

Identification

Epipremnum aureum is a climbing plant with aerial roots; juvenile leaves are entire and heart-shaped, while leaves can become much larger and develop divisions as the plant matures while climbing upward.

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