“Pothos” on a plant label can mean three different plants. Most pothos are cultivars of Epipremnum aureum. Cebu Blue and Baltic Blue belong to a second species, Epipremnum pinnatum. Satin pothos is not an Epipremnum at all; it is Scindapsus pictus. The leaf colour tells you the cultivar, but the species tells you how the plant will grow.
All three are climbing vines in the arum family (Araceae), all root easily from stem cuttings, and all are toxic to pets.
Every common pothos variety at a glance
Leaf descriptions are from NC State Extension cultivar lists.
| Variety | Species | Leaves | Light to give it indoors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden pothos | E. aureum | Green with golden-yellow variegation | Bright indirect; survives long periods in low light |
| Jade | E. aureum | Solid dark green | Lowest light of the group; NC State calls it “great in low light” |
| Neon | E. aureum | Bright yellow | Bright indirect, so the colour stays vivid |
| Lime | E. aureum | Bright yellow-green | Bright indirect |
| Marble Queen | E. aureum | Green marbled with white, white-marbled stems | Bright indirect |
| Snow Queen | E. aureum | Highly variegated green and white | Bright indirect; the least green tissue, so the least shade tolerant |
| Pearls and Jade | E. aureum | Green with white variegation | Bright indirect |
| N’Joy (Beautifall®) | E. aureum | Small, thinner green leaves with cream variegation | Bright indirect |
| Tricolor | E. aureum | Variegated with white; off-white stems | Bright indirect |
| Cebu Blue | E. pinnatum | Small, narrow, lance-shaped blue-green leaves | Bright indirect |
| Baltic Blue | E. pinnatum | Deep blue-green leaves with fenestrations | Bright indirect, with a support to climb |
| Skeleton Key | E. pinnatum | Large, dark green, narrow pointed tips | Bright indirect |
| Albo-Variegata | E. pinnatum | Large, serrated, dark green with creamy white variegation; slower growing | Bright indirect |
| Marble King | E. pinnatum | Small, ovate, creamy white with green spots | Bright indirect |
| Satin pothos (‘Exotica’, ‘Argyraeus’, ‘Silvery Ann’) | Scindapsus pictus | Dark green with silver blotches or edges | Bright indirect; no direct sun or cool air |
Trade names such as ‘Manjula’, ‘Global Green’ and ‘Glacier’ are also sold as pothos. NC State does not profile them, so we do not list care claims for them here. Treat them as E. aureum unless the label says otherwise.
Golden pothos and the Epipremnum aureum cultivars
Epipremnum aureum is native to the Society Islands. NC State notes the vines can reach 12 m (40 ft) and that container plants generally keep their juvenile leaf shape. Given a support to climb and enough light, the plant starts producing larger, mature leaves.
The E. aureum cultivars share one care routine; what differs is how much light each one needs:
- Green-heavy cultivars (Jade, Golden) cope best with dim rooms. NC State notes the species survives long periods in low light, though it prefers bright, indirect light.
- White-heavy cultivars (Snow Queen, Marble Queen, Pearls and Jade, N’Joy) carry less chlorophyll per leaf. In a dim spot, they grow slowly and can put out greener leaves. Move them closer to a window before changing anything else.
- Yellow cultivars (Neon, Lime) keep their brightest colour in bright, indirect light.
Shared care, from NC State: let the well-drained potting medium dry out between waterings. Fertilize every other month, except in winter when the plant is dormant. Older leaves yellow and drop over time, which concentrates foliage at the stem tips. Prune stems back to keep the plant bushy. Cuttings root easily in water.
For routine care and troubleshooting, use our pothos care guide.
Cebu Blue, Baltic Blue and the Epipremnum pinnatum cultivars
NC State explains that E. aureum was once treated as a cultivar of E. pinnatum. Botanists now recognize them as separate species with distinct vegetative features.
E. pinnatum is native from India and Southeast Asia to the Pacific and Australia. Indoors its vines reach about 2.4–3 m (8–10 ft). Its mature leaves become deeply incised and can reach 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long.
Cebu Blue is the best-known cultivar. Its blue-green leaves usually stay in their juvenile form. NC State notes that a stake or moss pole lets the leaves mature and develop splits like the species. Baltic Blue already shows fenestrations, so it pays off fastest on a pole.
Care differences from golden pothos, according to NC State:
- Soil should be moist, well-drained and rich in organic matter, with a slightly acidic pH.
- Keep it away from drafts and cold air.
- Plan to repot about every 2 to 3 years, and prune in spring or early summer.
Satin pothos (Scindapsus pictus)
Satin pothos looks like a silver-splashed pothos, but it belongs to the genus Scindapsus. It is native to Bangladesh and western and central Malesia.
NC State lists it as slow growing. Indoors it reaches 45–90 cm (1.5–3 ft) tall when trained on a stake, or it can trail from a hanging pot. It does best between 18 and 29 °C (65–85 °F) and does not tolerate cooler air or direct sun. Use moist, well-drained potting soil, and pinch the stems to keep it tidy.
Cultivars:
- ‘Exotica’: heart-shaped green leaves splashed with silver.
- ‘Argyraeus’: small, dark green leaves with silver edges.
- ‘Silvery Ann’: large, lance-shaped, light green leaves with large silver blotches.
Pothos or heartleaf philodendron?
Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) is the plant most often mislabelled as pothos. NC State gives two checks on new growth:
- Stipules: philodendron new leaves emerge with conspicuous free stipules (papery sheaths). Pothos new leaves have none.
- Petioles: pothos leaf stalks are grooved.
Pothos leaves are also glossier and thicker to the touch. The difference matters little for basic care, but it matters when you are trying to name a cultivar. Our pothos vs philodendron comparison covers the rest.
Pets
NC State lists Epipremnum aureum with medium-severity poison characteristics from calcium oxalate crystals. Listed symptoms include oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. E. pinnatum carries the same toxic principle, and satin pothos is listed as a problem for cats, dogs and horses. Hang trailing plants out of reach rather than relying on a “safer” variety.
To grow more of any variety, follow our pothos propagation guide.
Updated October 14, 2026: restored as a variety comparison using NC State Extension cultivar data. Earlier unsupported figures remain removed.
References
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Epipremnum aureum
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Epipremnum pinnatum
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Scindapsus pictus
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Philodendron hederaceum