'Golden' pothos guide

What it is

‘Golden’ is the classic pothos. It is the plant most people picture when they hear the word. The leaves are heart-shaped and green, with streaks and splashes of golden yellow. It is a true pothos, Epipremnum aureum, and it grows faster than any other kind.

How to tell it apart

Plant	Leaves	The tell
‘Golden’ pothos	Green with yellow streaks	Thick, waxy leaves with a groove along the leaf stem
‘Jessenia’ pothos	Green with lime-green marbling	The streaks are lime green, not gold
Heartleaf philodendron	Solid green, thinner and softer	New leaves unroll from a thin sheath that dries brown

Care differences

‘Golden’ handles lower light than any variegated pothos. In a dim spot it grows slower and the yellow fades. It also grows the fastest, so it needs pinching more often to stay full.

Keeping the yellow

The gold needs light. In a dark corner, new leaves come in almost solid green. Move it closer to a bright window and the next leaves show more yellow. The old green leaves will not change back.

Grow it from a cutting

Cut a stem just below a node, the bump where a leaf meets the vine. Root it in water or moist soil. Roots show in one to two weeks. Plant three to five cuttings in one pot for a full plant.

Buying it

‘Golden’ is sold in grocery stores, garden centers, and big box stores. Look for a pot with many vines and leaves all the way to the soil. Skip plants with yellow leaves, black stems, or soil that smells sour.