The Pothos plant (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the most widely cultivated indoor vines worldwide, often colloquially called Devil’s Ivy. Because it is frequently confused with similar vining plants, proper identification requires examining its physical structure, growth pattern, and unique botanical markers. Understanding these features allows growers to distinguish a true Pothos from its look-alikes and identify specific cultivars.
Distinctive Leaf and Stem Characteristics
The leaves provide the most immediate clues for identification. Juvenile leaves, the form most commonly seen in houseplants, are typically heart-shaped but are slightly elongated and pointed at the tip. They possess a thick, waxy, and glossy texture, which gives them a robust feel.
Coloration is highly variable; the classic ‘Golden Pothos’ displays irregular splashes of creamy yellow or gold against a medium green background. The petiole, the small stem connecting the leaf blade to the main vine, is a unique identifying feature. On a Pothos, the petiole is distinctly grooved or indented, creating a concave shape that contrasts with the rounded petioles of similar plants.
The main stem is generally thicker and more rigid than its close relatives. Older stems may exhibit gentle longitudinal grooves and remain green, sometimes showing subtle striping that matches the leaf variegation.
Understanding Pothos Growth Structure
Pothos is a vining plant that propagates through nodes, which are the slightly swollen points on the stem where the leaf and petiole attach. These nodes are the plant’s growth centers, capable of developing both aerial roots and new shoots. The sections of vine between these nodes are known as internodes.
A distinct feature emerging from the nodes is the aerial root, appearing as a thick, stubby protrusion, often brown or pale yellow. Typically, only one prominent aerial root appears per node, serving to anchor the vine and absorb atmospheric moisture. In nature, these roots allow the vine to climb vertically, triggering a dramatic change in leaf morphology.
When allowed to climb and mature, leaves can grow significantly larger, sometimes reaching 28 inches long. This mature phase may introduce fenestration, which is the development of natural splits or holes in the leaf blade. This transformation is rarely observed indoors, as it requires the plant to be actively climbing a vertical surface with abundant light.
Key Differences from Look-Alike Plants
The most frequent identification challenge is distinguishing Pothos from the Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum), which shares a similar growth habit and leaf shape. The most reliable difference lies in how new leaves emerge. A new Pothos leaf unfurls directly from a sheath that is part of the previous leaf’s petiole, and this old sheath dries out but remains attached to the stem.
In contrast, a new Philodendron leaf is protected by a specialized, papery structure called a cataphyll. Once the leaf unfurls, the cataphyll dries up and eventually falls off the vine, leaving a distinct scar.
Stems and petioles also differ reliably. The Pothos petiole has a concave groove, while the Philodendron petiole is fully rounded and generally thinner. Pothos aerial roots are thicker and singular (one per node), whereas Philodendron produces multiple, thinner, more fibrous roots at each node. Philodendron leaves are typically thinner and softer with a classic heart shape, while Pothos leaves are thicker and waxy with a straighter base.
Identifying Major Pothos Cultivars
Specific cultivars are determined by variegation pattern and color.
Golden and Neon Varieties
The ‘Golden’ Pothos features medium green leaves with random, irregular splashes of gold or yellow. Brighter light exposure encourages more yellow variegation. In contrast, the ‘Neon’ Pothos is identified by its solid, vibrant lime-green or chartreuse leaves, which lack variegation.
White Variegated Cultivars
The ‘Marble Queen’ Pothos is characterized by heavy, blocky variegation of creamy white or ivory against green. The white sections can be dense, sometimes making the plant appear nearly white, which requires brighter light to maintain. Among white-variegated cultivars, the pattern is key for further distinction.
N’Joy and Manjula
The ‘N’Joy’ Pothos displays crisp, well-defined blocks of white next to dark green, with little speckling within the white areas. The ‘Manjula’ Pothos stands out due to its broad leaves with wavy edges and a complex, “painterly” variegation blending creamy white, silver, and various shades of green.