Epipremnum pinnatum
dragon-tail plant
Family AraceaeAlso called centipede tongavine, taro vine, silver vine
About
Epipremnum pinnatum is a climbing aroid of tropical Asia, northern Australia and Melanesia whose leaves change shape as it matures. It is grown as an ornamental houseplant and garden plant.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten (NC State Extension): calcium oxalate crystals in the leaves and stems cause mouth and throat irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing or breathing.
- People
- Toxic if eaten (NC State Extension): calcium oxalate crystals can irritate the mouth and throat and make swallowing difficult.
- Water
- Water about weekly, more often in a larger pot; not fully drought resistant.
- Soil
- Water-retentive but porous mix; standard houseplant or tropical mixes work.
- Pot
- Add a pole or lattice if you want it to climb rather than trail.
Field notes
Morphology
Starts life on the ground and climbs trees, becoming epiphytic over time. Juvenile and mature leaves look markedly different on the same plant, and aerial roots form along the stem. Small potted plants trail or creep like many vines.
Distribution & habitat
Native from northern Australia through Malaysia and Indochina to southern China, Taiwan, Japan and Melanesia; naturalised in the West Indies.
Cultivation notes
Grown indoors or in gardens for its foliage and copes with most indoor conditions. Many growers add a pole or lattice so it climbs instead of trailing. Needs water-retentive but porous soil; most houseplant or tropical mixes suit. Not fully drought resistant.
History & etymology
Known in Tagalog as tibatib.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- Australia, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Japan
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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