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Photo: Forest and Kim Starr / CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
IndoorExotic

Arrowhead plant

Syngonium podophyllum

An adaptable foliage plant with arrow-shaped leaves in green, cream or pink. It copes with ordinary rooms and bright shade, wants even moisture, and is toxic to cats and dogs.

Mature size0.2–1.8 m tall, 0.2–0.6 m spreadGrowthModerateSunPart shadeWaterModerate
Drought: 2 of 5
Shade: 4 of 5
Ease of care: 4 of 5
Use in a designGet it looked after

Indoors in Dubai

Arrowhead plant indoors

Light it grows well in

  1. Low (does not suit it)
  2. Medium (suits it)
  3. Bright (suits it)
  4. Sun (does not suit it)

Bright, filtered light suits it, and green types take dimmer spots than variegated ones (RHS). Direct sun burns or bleaches the leaves, so keep it out of hot west and south sun through glass.

Dry, air-conditioned air

3 of 5

1 means it needs humidity help, 5 means it does not mind.

Under air conditioning: It prefers high humidity (NC State), so dry AC air is its weak point. Keep it out of the vent airflow, try a damp-pebble saucer, and rinse the leaves now and then to deter spider mites.

Cats and dogs

Not pet-safe

Toxic to dogs, cats and horses, according to the ASPCA (listed as arrow-head vine): insoluble calcium oxalates cause oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing if chewed. The RHS adds that the sap can irritate skin and eyes.

Size
TabletopSits on a table or shelf
Rooms
Living roomBedroomHome officeBathroomKitchen
In Dubai shops
Easy to findMost garden centres and supermarkets
Outdoors
Indoors only
All indoor plants for DubaiMore plants for medium light

Season

Through the Dubai year

How Arrowhead plant behaves through Dubai's seasons, month by month.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
24°
26°
29°
34°
38°
40°
42°
42°
40°
36°
31°
27°

Buy and pot up

Feb – Apr

Most active growth

Mar – Oct

Regular feed

Apr – Oct

Pinch back the tips

Apr – Sep

Spider mites and mealybugs

Apr – Sep

Hot glass and dry air

Jun – Sep

Water less

  • Buy and pot up: Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov

    Autumn and spring, when a plant is not carried home through 45°C heat.

  • Most active growth: Mar–Oct

    The RHS says to water freely when it is in growth.

  • Regular feed: Apr–Oct

    A balanced liquid feed every three or four weeks while growing (RHS).

  • Pinch back the tips: Apr–Sep

    NC State says to cut stems as they start to run; the cuttings root.

  • Spider mites and mealybugs: Apr–Sep

    Dry air favours mites; rinse the leaves and check the undersides.

  • Hot glass and dry air: Jun–Sep

    Keep it out of direct sun and the vent airflow.

  • Water less: Dec–Feb

    The RHS says to reduce watering in winter.

Arrowhead stays evergreen indoors, so its calendar is about pace. From March to October it makes most of its new growth: that is when to feed every three to four weeks (RHS) and to pinch back stems that start to run (NC State). In June to September keep it out of hot west sun and the vent airflow, and look for spider mites. From December to February water less often, as the RHS advises, and do not let it stand in cold, wet mix.

Meet the plant

Meet the Arrowhead plant

Meet the arrowhead plant, which changes its mind as it grows. Young plants are bushy, with neat arrow-shaped leaves, some with silvery or pink markings. As a plant matures and climbs, NC State says the leaves turn longer and narrower and eventually split into five to eleven lobes, like a foot with toes.

In a Dubai home you mostly see the young, bushy stage. NC State suggests cutting off the stems as they start to run to keep a shrubby shape; give it a moss pole instead and it climbs on aerial roots, with bigger, more divided leaves.

It is a cheap, easy plant, from about AED 35 at Acacia, and it likes the same bright, filtered light as most foliage plants. Keep it away from hot sun and vent air and it is rarely any trouble. Keep it away from cats and dogs, too.

Syngonium podophyllum, the arrowhead plant, is an aroid (Araceae) native to a wide range from Mexico through Central America to South America. NC State gives 0.9 to 1.8 metres in height and 0.3 to 0.6 metres in width, and the RHS gives up to 2.5 metres. Young leaves are arrowhead-shaped, up to 14 centimetres, and can be silvery or pink; the stems climb by aerial roots, and a climbing plant develops longer, lobed adult leaves.

The RHS says green types grow in bright, indirect light and variegated cultivars need bright, filtered light; NC State says to avoid full sun, which burns or bleaches the foliage. The RHS gives a minimum winter temperature of 15°C, which most air-conditioned rooms stay above.

Keep the mix evenly moist and well drained (NC State, RHS), watering freely while it grows and less in winter. NC State says it prefers a warm setting with high humidity, so dry AC air is its weak point, and it lists aphids, mealybugs and spider mites as the pests. The RHS also lists mealybugs and red spider mite when grown indoors.

The ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats, dogs and horses because of insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, and the RHS says it is harmful if eaten and that the sap irritates skin and eyes, so wear gloves when cutting. NC State records it as weedy outside its native range, which is one more reason to keep it in a pot indoors.

Design

Where to use it

Desk or shelf plantBright-shade cornerBedroom or bathroom with a windowClimbing accent (moss pole)

Arrowhead is a good first plant for a shelf, desk or sideboard where light is bright but filtered: an east window, or a metre or so from tinted glass. Pinch it to keep a bushy mound, or give it a moss pole to climb. A bathroom with a window gives slightly moister air, which it prefers. Keep it out of direct sun and the vent airflow, and out of reach of a cat or dog.

Epipremnum aureum specimen in the Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg, Munich, Germany.

Pothos

Pothos trails where arrowhead mounds, and both handle the same bright, filtered shelf; both are toxic to pets, so keep them out of reach.

Peace lily - 1 - cropped

Peace lily

Peace lily's upright, glossy leaves and white spathes rise above arrowhead's mound, and the two aroids have similar moisture needs.

Calathea roseopicta. Common name: Rose Painted Calathea.

Calathea

Calathea's patterned leaves make a contrast of pattern against arrowhead's arrow shapes, and both prefer moister air, so they suit the same bathroom or bright shelf.

Care guide

How to grow it in Dubai

Watering

Summer: Keep the mix evenly moist but well drained (NC State, RHS), watering when the top couple of centimetres have dried. Flush the pot every four to six months with at least twice its volume of water to clear salts (University of Maryland).

Winter: Water less often (RHS), and do not let it stand in cold, wet mix.

Soil
A houseplant compost that stays moist but drains freely (RHS). Use a pot with drainage holes.
Feeding
A balanced liquid fertiliser every three or four weeks while it is actively growing (RHS), roughly April to October.
Pruning
NC State says to cut off the stems as they start to develop to keep a shrub-like habit. Wear gloves: the sap irritates skin and eyes (RHS).
Planting
Repot every few years, trimming roots to keep it manageable (NC State). Offer a moss pole if you want a climber with larger, lobed leaves.
Pests
AphidsMealybugsSpider mites

Avoid these

Common mistakes

  • Placing it in direct sun for faster growth. NC State says full sun burns or bleaches the foliage; keep it in bright, filtered light.
  • Putting a variegated type in the dim corner. The RHS says variegated cultivars need bright, filtered light.
  • Letting it dry out hard, or sit wet. NC State wants even moisture and good drainage.
  • Parking it in the vent airflow. It likes high humidity (NC State), and dry air favours spider mites.
  • Leaving trailing stems within reach of pets. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats, dogs and horses.

Extra notes

Good to know

  • The ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats, dogs and horses: insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing.
  • Leaf shape changes with age: young leaves are arrowhead-shaped, and the adult leaves of a climbing plant are longer and divided into five to eleven leaflets (NC State).
  • NC State records it as weedy outside its native range, so keep it in a pot indoors rather than planting it loose outdoors.
  • Prices seen on 7 October 2026: Acacia Garden Center lists arrowhead plants from AED 35, with larger sizes costing more.

Toxicity: Toxic to dogs, cats and horses, according to the ASPCA (listed as arrow-head vine): insoluble calcium oxalates cause oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing if chewed. The RHS adds that the sap can irritate skin and eyes.

Pros

  • Cheap and easy to find, from about AED 35 for a 15 to 20 cm plant
  • Grows in bright shade and filtered light, so it suits rooms behind tinted glass
  • Green, cream and pink-leaved types brighten a dull corner
  • Pinching the stems keeps it bushy, and stem cuttings root (NC State)

Cons

  • Toxic to cats, dogs and horses if chewed (ASPCA)
  • Prefers high humidity; dry AC air is its weak point (NC State)
  • Scorches or bleaches in direct sun, including hot sun through glass
  • Turns leggy and vine-like as it ages unless pinched back
  • Aphids, mealybugs and spider mites all like it

FAQ

Common questions

Does an arrowhead plant need a lot of light?
No. The RHS says bright, indirect light for green types and bright, filtered light for variegated ones. NC State says dappled sun or partial shade, and that full sun burns or bleaches the leaves.
Why has my arrowhead gone leggy?
As it matures it turns from a bushy plant into a climbing vine (NC State). Pinch the stems as they start to run, move variegated types closer to filtered light, and root the cuttings.
Is arrowhead plant safe for cats and dogs?
No. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats, dogs and horses. Chewing it causes mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting, so keep it out of reach.
How often should I water it?
When the top couple of centimetres have dried, keeping the mix evenly moist but never soggy (NC State, RHS), and less often in winter. Check two inches down rather than following a calendar.
Will it climb?
Yes. NC State says it develops as a vine with aerial roots on its stems. Give it a moss pole for larger, divided leaves, or pinch it to keep a bushy shape.

Not sure how it suits your garden?

Ask about Arrowhead plant on WhatsApp

Sources

  1. 1. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Syngonium podophyllum
  2. 2. RHS: Syngonium podophyllum
  3. 3. ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants, Arrow-Head Vine
  4. 4. University of Maryland Extension: Watering indoor plants
  5. 5. Acacia Garden Center: indoor plants collection (price checked 7 October 2026)

Last reviewed 2026-10-07 by Plant Guide horticulture desk.

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