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Plants / Paludarium Plants
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Paludarium Plants

Syngonium

Syngonium podophyllum

Climbing aroid with arrow-shaped juvenile leaves; an undemanding houseplant that grows above water in paludaria, with its roots allowed to trail into the water.

Not an underwater plant. It is a land plant and rots if you plant it under water. Keep its leaves in the air, for example on the land part of a paludarium or with only its roots in the water.

Check your local laws. USA (Florida): classed as a Category I invasive species by the Florida Invasive Species Council and judged an invasive threat by the UF/IFAS assessment; not on federal or Florida state noxious-weed lists. UF/IFAS does not recommend planting it in Florida. Never throw it into ponds, rivers or drains.

Needs

Care levelEasy
LightLow
CO₂Unknown
GrowthUnknown
HeightUp to 30 cm
TemperatureUnknown
WhereLand part of a paludarium
Feeds throughRoots, in soil
FamilyAraceae
Native toMexico and Central America to Bolivia and Brazil; widely naturalised (e.g. Florida, Hawaii, Caribbean, Southeast Asia)
Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. See sources

How to keep it

  • Roots may trail in the water; keep leaves and stems in air
  • Tolerates low to medium light
  • Wear gloves when trimming: the sap irritates skin and eyes
  • Never discard cuttings outdoors
  • Submerging leaves

Sources

13 facts checked with sources

  • Scientific namePOWO: Syngonium podophyllum Schott
  • FamilycorrectedPOWO: Syngonium podophyllum Schott · UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Syngonium podophyllum
  • Native rangecorrectedPOWO API: Syngonium podophyllum distribution · Flowgrow: Syngonium spp. (Arrowhead vine)
  • Plant typePetMD: 6 'Aquarium' Plants to Avoid (K. Wingerter, 2019)
  • LightUF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Syngonium podophyllum · PetMD: 6 'Aquarium' Plants to Avoid (K. Wingerter, 2019)
  • Care levelPetMD: 6 'Aquarium' Plants to Avoid (K. Wingerter, 2019)
  • HeightPetMD: 6 'Aquarium' Plants to Avoid (K. Wingerter, 2019) · UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Syngonium podophyllum
  • TemperatureUF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Syngonium podophyllum
  • Where to plantcorrectedPetMD: 6 'Aquarium' Plants to Avoid (K. Wingerter, 2019)
  • Water or land plantcorrectedFlowgrow: Syngonium spp. (Arrowhead vine) · PetMD: 6 'Aquarium' Plants to Avoid (K. Wingerter, 2019)
  • AboutUF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Syngonium podophyllum · Flowgrow: Syngonium spp. (Arrowhead vine) · PetMD: 6 'Aquarium' Plants to Avoid (K. Wingerter, 2019)
  • Care tipscorrectedPetMD: 6 'Aquarium' Plants to Avoid (K. Wingerter, 2019) · UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Syngonium podophyllum
  • LawscorrectedUF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Syngonium podophyllum