If you are also an enthusiastic gardener who loves a hint of nature in your home decor, then trying different types of indoor plants is always on your bucket list. Although there are various choices, from my experience, the pothos plant has never disappointed me.
I have seen so many varieties of pothos growing around me since I was young. Not only are these plants really easy to grow, but they also have air-purifying properties.
If you are looking to plant some of these houseplants at home, then come along and discover the 15 pothos varieties along with their features and uses.
Quick answer
The 15 pothos varieties include the golden pothos, neon pothos, marble queen pothos, Manjula pothos, Greenjula pothos, Jessenia pothos, snow queen pothos, global green pothos, pearls and jade pothos, Baltic blue pothos, Cebu blue pothos, albo pothos, sunburst pothos, satin pothos, and Harlequin pothos, which are used as common houseplants due to their low-maintenance nature.
List of 15 Pothos Varieties: Features and Uses
For all the enthusiastic gardeners who like to add indoor plants to their personal and professional spaces, this list of 15 pothos varieties has it all in store for you!
1. Golden Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum
- Height: 3-6 feet
- Leaf Colour: Dark green and yellow
The golden pothos is the most commonly grown pothos variety, which features variegated green leaves that are ideal both as a houseplant and in office settings.
These trailing vines are not only drought-tolerant but also have air-purifying properties, which make them an ideal houseplant option.
2. Marble Queen Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum ‘Marble Queen’.
- Height: 6-10 feet
- Leaf Colour: Green and yellow
Popularly known as the silver vine, the marble queen pothos is so named for its marble-like foliage. Best planted in hanging baskets indoors, these low-maintenance plants need bright, indirect sunlight.
This low-light hanging plant is associated with the idea of good luck and hence can be gifted to friends and family.
3. Neon Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum ‘Neon pothos’.
- Height: Up to 10 feet
- Leaf Colour: Neon yellow
Also known as the neon devil’s ivy, the neon plant is also confused with the golden pothos plants, but the latter is more variegated than the neon pothos.
These uniformly distributed neon yellow colours shine bright in a low-light setting. They can be easily propagated using cuttings and should be watered once a week.
4. Manjula Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum ‘Manjula’
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Leaf Colour: Creamy white and green
The Manjula pothos was developed by Ashish Hansoti and was named so to describe its beautiful wavy green leaves with creamy white variegation.
As compared to the other varieties, the Manjula pothos has slower growth and more wavy leaves, which are perfect for an elevated indoor look.
While pothos are disease resistant, look out for aphids and spider mites and treat them with insecticidal soap.
5. Greenjula Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum ‘Greenjula’
- Height: Up to 6 feet
- Leaf Colour: Green
A patented pothos variety, the GreenJula pothos is related to the Manjula type and therefore has a similar name. However, the green jula has a ‘green’ variegation and not a white one, which makes it easily identifiable from the others.
One more feature differentiating it from its parent plant is that it has a comparatively faster growth rate and can be a more practical choice for indoor planting.
6. Jessenia Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum ‘Jessenia’
- Height: Up to 10 feet
- Leaf Colour: Green
The Jessenia pothos is a mutation of the marble queen pothos, which was introduced by Costa Farms in 2014. Unlike the other varieties, Jessenia has a darker green colour and a slower growth rate.
Water it only when the top 2 inches of the soil are dry to avoid waterlogging, which can lead to root rot and browning of leaves.
7. Snow Queen Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum ‘Snow Queen’
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Leaf Colour: Creamy white and green
Often confused with the Marble Queen pothos, the Snow Queen variety is rightly named as such due to its very white and green heart-shaped leaves, which resemble snow on the foliage.
These low-light vine plants are easy to care for, have a calming effect and are really resilient.
8. Global Green Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum ‘Global Green’
- Height: Up to 10 feet
- Leaf Colour: Green
Unlike the Marble Queen and Golden Pothos, the Global Green, as the name suggests, is a green pothos variety which has glossy green heart-shaped foliage.
Although the leaves are smaller than the other variety, this plant can be grown in small hanging baskets and can fit in any setting due to its compact size.
9. Pearls and Jade Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum ‘Pearls and Jade ’
- Height: Up to 8 feet
- Leaf Colour: Green and creamy-white
Rightly named the Pearls and Jade, the creamy white variegation on the green leaves looks like pearls. Often confused with the Marble Queen pothos, this plant is a mutation with smaller leaves.
The variegation on this variety is mostly around the edges, while the Marble Queen Pothos has a more evenly scattered pattern.
10. Baltic Blue Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Baltic Blue ’
- Height: Up to 10 feet
- Leaf Colour: Blue-green
Similar to the Cebu blue pothos, the Baltic blue variety also has a blueish tint which can be seen both horizontally and vertically due to its trailing habit.
These large blue-green leaves are perfect if you want to move away from the classic green and white variegated pothos plants, as these also give a more exotic look to the space.
11. Cebu Blue Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Cebu blue’
- Height: 6-8 feet
- Leaf Colour: Blue-green
Unlike most of the other pothos varieties, the Cebu blue pothos grows metallic blue, arrow-shaped leaves, which are different from the other types.
This variety was discovered in Cebu, and hence the name.
The best care tip for this plant is to repot them every 2-3 years.
12. Albo Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Albo’
- Height: 6-10 feet
- Leaf Colour: Green
Popularly known as the ‘Dragon Tail’, the albo pothos is a tropical climbing houseplant that grows dark green leaves with white spots vertically. Unlike the majority of the pothos, albo leaves burst open in the form of holes much earlier.
The albo pothos has much larger, lance-like leaves, which can grow easily without needing much plant feeding.
13. Sunburst Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum ‘Sunburst’
- Height: Up to 6 feet
- Leaf Colour: Green and white
Primarily, the sunburst pothos is a variegated variety that looks very similar to the mini monstera. The glossy green leaves have white spots, which naturally burst up in the form of holes upon maturity, adding more texture to the plant.
Additionally, these may look like the golden pothos, but this type has more pointed leaves than those shaped like a heart.
14. Satin Pothos
- Botanical name: Scindapsus pictus
- Height: Up to 10 feet
- Leaf Colour: Green and white
Also known as the silk pothos, the satin variety has narrow blue-green leaves with small white spots. These have a trailing, growing habit, which means they can be grown easily in a hanging basket.
I personally love to keep them around my balcony garden, near a north or east-facing window, but away from direct sunlight, as it can scorch the leaves.
15. Harlequin Pothos
- Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum ‘ Harlequin’
- Height: 3-10 feet
- Leaf Colour: White and green
The harlequin pothos is a rare variety of these houseplants, which can look similar to the marble queen one. However, the colour pattern of the harlequin stands out from this list; it has larger white patches, which feel like a painting.
It is comparatively larger in size and grows faster than the other types.
How to Grow the Pothos Varieties? Basic Growing Guide for Beginners
Despite the different leaf shape and colour, the growing guide of the pothos varieties is the same. These tropical climbing vines are easy to grow and give the best results with minimal care.
- Take a large 8-inch pot with a good amount of drainage holes and fill it with a well-draining soil mix.
- Now, take the stem cutting of your desired pothos plant and place it gently in the soil and cover the roots back with soil, removing any air pockets.
- Make sure the leaves are not covered under the soil, as this can suffocate the plant, leading to browning of leaves.
- Water the plant thoroughly once every 7-10 days, as they are fairly drought-tolerant.
- Pothos are not heavy feeders but can benefit a little from a slow-release, balanced fertiliser with an NPK ratio of 3-1-2 during the growing season.
- Make sure the plant is placed near a north- or east-facing window in indirect sunlight, as direct sun exposure can scorch the leaves.
- Avoid overwatering to make the plant grow faster, as it can lead to root rot.
- Snip off the dead and damaged leaves regularly so that it does not spread to the entire plant.
Gardener’s Insight
The pothos plants are extremely low-maintenance and can survive even with little care. However, keep them away from direct sunlight and repot in case of root rot.
Concluding Remarks
For homeowners looking for easy-to-grow plants for their indoor space elevation, pothos is a perfect choice for them. Not only are they easy to care for, but they also have various benefits like air-purifying properties and calming effects.
Whether planted horizontally on a desk setup or in a hanging basket, the wide variety works perfectly for all home setups, from subtle to bold and dramatic.
FAQs
What are the most famous varieties of pothos?
The Golden Pothos, Harlequin, and Jessenia are some popular varieties of pothos.
How tall does the pothos plant get?
Ideally, the pothos varieties can grow up to 10 feet tall for the taller varieties.
Are all types of pothos drought-tolerant?
Yes, all types of pothos are drought-tolerant and can die with excessive watering.
Are the pothos varieties toxic to pets?
Yes, all the varieties of pothos plants are toxic to pets and should be kept out of reach from them.
Does the golden pothos purify air?
Yes, the pothos plant has been credited with air-purifying properties.
