Where they come from. Syngonium is a genus of about 42 climbing aroids native to tropical America, from Mexico south to Bolivia and Brazil, with one species in the Greater Antilles (Plants of the World Online, n.d.; Croat, 1981). An earlier revision of the genus recognized 33 (Croat, 1981). In the wild the seed sprouts in soil and the young plant sits as a small rosette (a low ring of leaves) on the forest floor; once its stem reaches a tree, it climbs, growing thicker and producing larger leaves (Croat, 1981). Leaf shape changes as the plant matures: young leaves are heart- or arrow-shaped, and on a plant allowed to climb, adult leaves divide into 5 to 11 leaflets, so a young plant and a mature one can look like two different things (North Carolina State Extension, n.d.).

Commercial cultivars come largely from Syngonium podophyllum, the arrowhead vine, which is the most widely produced species in the foliage plant trade (Chen et al., 2004). Tissue culture of this species (growing new plants from tiny pieces of tissue) has produced many new cultivars (Chen et al., 2004). For plants grown under glass, the RHS gives green-leaved cultivars bright, indirect light and variegated cultivars bright, filtered light (Royal Horticultural Society, n.d.-a).

The arrowhead vine roots easily from cuttings (Chen et al., 2004) and is low-maintenance indoors (North Carolina State Extension, n.d.). Young plants are shrubby and turn vining with age; give one a totem (a moss pole or other upright support) or trellis if you want it to climb rather than trail (North Carolina State Extension, n.d.; Chen et al., 2004). In Florida it has escaped gardens, and the Florida Invasive Species Council lists it as a Category I invasive; the University of Florida (UF/IFAS) does not recommend it for use there (Khamare & Marble, 2023).

Light. Green-leaved cultivars want bright, indirect light, and variegated ones bright, filtered light (Royal Horticultural Society, n.d.-a). Keep it out of full sun, which tends to burn or bleach the leaves (North Carolina State Extension, n.d.). In low light the stems stretch and grow weak (Chen et al., 2004), and plants grown in a shaded garden can lose their variegation and turn all green (Queensland Poisons Information Centre, n.d.).

Water. Keep it evenly moist: water when the surface of the mix has dried slightly, then let the excess drain, and in winter water less often without letting it dry out (Chen et al., 2004). A mix that runs too dry yellows the older leaves (Chen et al., 2004).

Humidity, warmth, feeding and support. Plants look their best at 40–60% relative humidity (Chen et al., 2004). Keep them at 65–80°F (18–27°C) to hold leaf color; chilling injury can start below 55°F (13°C) (Chen et al., 2004). The RHS gives a winter minimum of 59°F (15°C) (Royal Horticultural Society, n.d.-a). Pot it in houseplant potting mix and feed a balanced liquid fertilizer every 3–4 weeks while it grows (Royal Horticultural Society, n.d.-a). It can trail or climb a moss pole (Royal Horticultural Society, n.d.-b); in the wild, climbing stems produce larger leaves (Croat, 1981).