Plant spotlight: syngonium arrowhead plants

Whatever you call it, these plants are easy to care for, low-light lovers that are available in a wide range of colors and you can even choose the shape as it grows!

Goose foot or arrow head?

Arrowhead plant goes by a variety of names based on what the leaf shape resembles. Some say it looks like a foot of a goose, some say an arrowhead. Syngonium is the shortened version of the scientific name syngonium podophyllum given to houseplant version of the larger syngonium species. In the wild, syngoniums are woody vines that grow 10-20 meters up jungle trees. Arrowhead plants have been cultivated as houseplants for over a hundred years. Other common names include arrowhead plant, arrowhead vine, arrowhead philodendron, goosefoot, african evergreen and american evergreen. They are also known as nephthytis but there is some controversy over whether that name applies.

No matter what you call it, arrowhead plants are a great addition to your houseplant collection because of their unique leaf shape and growing pattern, the variety of colors available, and how easy they are to grow.

beautiful mature syngonium arrowhead plant

Bush or vine? Maybe a little of both.

One of the best features of growing syngoniums is the ability to choose to keep it bushy and full, or to allow the production of climbing vines.

Young arrowhead plants are bushy and usually pretty full, making them attractive indoor plant choices for coffee tables, side tables, and other surfaces. As the plants grow and mature, they develop a climbing habit, making them fun to grow up trellises or support poles. But don't worry, if you don’t want it growing up, just prune it regularly and it will continue to get bushy and more full.

bushy or vine? you choose!

If you do choose to allow vining, LATEBLOOM offers many support trellis options in a variety of sizes.

Cuttings for days

When you are trimming your arrowhead plant regularly to keep its bushy shape, you will soon have lots of cuttings on your hands. What a wonderful problem to have!

Another great thing about syngoniums is that their cuttings root very easily in water so you'll be growing more plants in no time to give as gifts or add to other rooms of your home.

So many colors, which is your favorite?

Because arrowhead plants have been cultivated as houseplants for many decades, we get the benefit of having lots of varieties to choose from. From light to dark, green to pink, even crazy variegations.

Some have beautifully variegated foliage flushed with white, cream, silver, pink, or purple. Our favorite arrowhead plant varieties at LATEBLOOM are:

Cream allusion: a cream colored leaf with just a tiny tint of pink veins near the center of the leaf.

White Butterfly: a stark white leaf that looks almost albino as if all the pigment has been removed magically somehow. Very striking next to darker foliage plants like monsteras.

Syngonium care tips

As with most houseplants, the most common problems with keeping syngoniums alive and healthy is overwatering and underwatering. But with a few LATEBLOOM tips, you will know what to look for and how to water when the time is right.

Avoid watering on a schedule.

Don't water every Friday just because. Check each plant and water when required. Poke your finger into the soil an inch or so down. Is the soil wet? Don't add more water. Is the soil dry? Time to water. Plants needs change with the seasons and so should your plant care.

Bear in mind that your Arrowhead plant will need more water when it is actively growing, or in warmer conditions for example. The soil will likely dry out faster in spring and summer than it will in winter, making underwatering more likely. Without water, the roots will dry out and it won’t transport moisture to its stems or leaves, resulting in wilting leaves and the entire Arrowhead plant drooping. Watch for these signs.

Syngoniums love humidity

Avoid placing syngoniums in drafty locations in your home. They prefer humidity conditions and you can improve humidity levels in a number of ways.

Group your plants together – The increased transpiration will increase local humidity for all your plants.

Place your Arrowhead Plant on a humidity tray. As the water evaporates, it increases humidity levels in the immediate vicinity of the plant. Take care to ensure the base of the pot is not sitting in water.

Use a humidifier to quickly and easily boost humidity levels considerably.

Avoid misting your Arrowhead plant, as this is not very effective for increasing humidity levels and can increase the risk of disease developing.

With these tips from LATEBLOOM Plants, you are ready to grow a healthy arrowhead syngonium plant!

What is your favorite variety of syngonium? Let us know in the comments below.

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