Pixie Arrowhead Vine

Pixie Arrowhead Vine (Syngonium podophyllum 'Pixie') is the smallest of the syngoniums: a tidy mound of arrow shaped leaves marbled cream and green that tops out around 30cm tall and 30cm wide. That size is the appeal. It sits on a desk, a shelf or a bathroom windowsill without the trailing sprawl the full sized arrowhead vines are known for.

Why you'll love it

• Small enough for a shelf. At roughly 30cm each way it fits the spots most indoor plants outgrow within a year.
• Variegated leaves do the work. Cream and green marbling holds all year, so there is no waiting on flowers for interest.
• It forgives a missed watering. Fleshy stems hold moisture, and it wilts as a clear warning rather than collapsing.
• Happy away from a window. Bright indirect light is ideal, but it keeps its colour in dimmer rooms where many variegated plants fade.
• Easy to multiply. Stem cuttings root in water within a few weeks.

Where it works best

Indoors, anywhere in the country. Inside a heated home your climate stops mattering, which counts for a plant this frost tender. Offices, bedrooms and bathrooms all suit it, and bathroom humidity is a bonus rather than a risk.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. Outdoors it needs a frost free tropical or subtropical garden, in a sheltered shaded spot. In cooler states keep it in a pot that can come inside before winter.

One caveat. This is an aroid, and the sap is toxic if chewed, so keep it out of reach in a home with pets or small children who sample the foliage.

Growing Pixie Arrowhead Vine in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light gives the strongest variegation. Direct sun through glass scorches the leaves within days. It is frost tender and belongs indoors outside the tropics and subtropics.

Soil. A quality indoor potting mix opened up with perlite or bark. The pot must have a drainage hole, because syngoniums rot faster from wet feet than from neglect.

Water and feed. Water when the top third of the mix is dry, roughly weekly in warm weather and every two to three weeks in winter. Tip out the saucer afterwards. A half strength liquid fertiliser monthly through spring and summer is plenty.

Pruning. Pinch the growing tips to keep the mound compact, otherwise stems lengthen and it starts to trail. Cut any yellowing leaf off at the base.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is sold in 200mm pots in packs of six. Each plant is established and full rather than a young cutting, so they can go straight into decorative pots or be split across several rooms, a shelf run or an office fitout.

A few marked or creased leaves after transit are normal. Give the plants a week in bright indirect light before the first water, and expect new growth within a month in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, with a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Indoor plant tips for beginners
• Browse the full indoor plant range
• Find an indoor pot that drains properly

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Like all aroids it contains calcium oxalate crystals, and chewing causes mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting. Keep it up on a shelf if your pet tries the foliage.

How much light does it need?

Bright indirect light gives the best variegation, though it copes in dimmer rooms with slower growth. Keep it out of direct sun through glass.

How do I stop it getting leggy?

Pinch the tips regularly and turn the pot every couple of weeks. Long bare stems usually mean too little light rather than too little water.

How often should I water it?

Only when the top third of the mix is dry: roughly weekly in the warm months, every two to three weeks in winter. Soft yellow lower leaves mean you are watering too often.