Plant guides / Arrowhead plant
'White Butterfly' syngonium guide
Syngonium podophyllum 'White Butterfly', also called arrowhead plant 'White Butterfly', White Butterfly
Published 2026-11-08
Quick care
- Light
- Medium
- Water
- When the top 2 to 3 cm (1 in) of soil is dry
- Humidity
- Average room air is fine. More helps.
- Temperature
- 16 to 27°C (60 to 80°F). Keep above 13°C (55°F).
- Soil
- Well-draining houseplant mix with bark or perlite
- Feeding
- Half-strength fertilizer monthly in spring and summer
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs. Chewing causes mouth pain and drooling.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Mature size
- 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 ft) as a bush. Vines climb 1 to 2 m (3 to 6 ft).
- Propagation
- Stem cuttings with a node, rooted in water or soil
- Where to buy
- Common
This page covers what makes 'White Butterfly' syngonium different. For light, water, soil, pests, and the rest, read the arrowhead plant care guide.
What it is
‘White Butterfly’ is the most common arrowhead plant. Its arrow-shaped leaves are pale green to creamy white in the center, with darker green edges. Select-A-Plant lists the foliage as white and green, with a cascading habit. Young plants are compact. Older plants vine and climb.
How to tell it apart
| Plant | Leaves | The tell |
|---|---|---|
| ‘White Butterfly’ | Pale cream center, green edges | Soft, even pale center |
| ‘Albo Variegatum’ syngonium | Bright white blocks and half-moons | Pure white sections |
| ‘Three Kings’ syngonium | Cream and green marbling | Marbled all over |
Care differences
The pale center needs medium to bright indirect light. It is one of the easiest syngoniums.
Leaves change shape with age. Young leaves are simple arrows. Older leaves split into three or five lobes. Pinch the vines if you want it to stay compact with arrow leaves.
Grow it from a cutting
Cut below a node and root in water or moist soil. Roots form in one to two weeks.
Buying it
‘White Butterfly’ is sold everywhere. Look for full pots with pale centers on new leaves.