With elegant, arrow-shaped leaves, arrowhead plants (Syngonium podophyllum) are easygoing, visually appealing houseplants.
Of all the popular tropical houseplants out there, I think arrowhead plants have some of the most interesting and varied leaf colors and patterns.
Just when you think you’ve seen them all, another syngonium variation comes around.
There are bright or rose-colored Syngonium cultivars and distinctly green and white mottled varieties. There are itty-bitty plants perfect for a fairy garden, and those with large, heart-shaped foliage.
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Our guide to growing arrowhead plants has full details about how to cultivate these low-maintenance beauties in your home.
In this guide, we’re going to check out some of the prettiest, most exciting Syngonium cultivars out there. Here’s the list:
In addition to being commonly called arrowhead plants, S. podophyllum also goes by a variety of different monikers, including arrowhead vine, goosefoot, arrowhead philodendron (spoiler: it’s not a philodendron!), African evergreen, or American evergreen.
This species is native to tropical areas from Mexico to Bolivia and naturalized across the globe from Hawaii to Costa Rica and the West Indies.
Want to know a tip I’ve picked up over the years of using different tropical species in interior design schemes?
Arrowhead plants are especially exceptional in groups.
Since there are so many fabulous arrowhead cultivars, you could combine a few petite green specimens with a big bold red one in the center.
Or pair primarily white cultivars with pastel ones for a simple, modern display.
You’ll often see arrowhead plants simply sold under a generic name, as you’ll find at Nature Hills Nursery.
Most arrowheads have some variation of cream, pink, and green, but there are dozens of beautiful Syngonium cultivars out there, all with different colors.
Let’s start the exploration:
1. Albo
The rise in popularity of variegated plants has made S. podophyllum albo-variegatum hugely sought-after. And I confess, I absolutely love this arrowhead!
The albo arrowhead, as it’s commonly called, features dramatic deep green, light green, and white variegation on leaves held at the end of rosy stems.
Be sure to cut off any fully green branches or the whole plant will try to revert back to solid color.
This Syngonium variety also prefers higher humidity and more careful watering to avoid root rot than with other arrowheads.
Want to add this beauty to your houseplant collection?
Visit Nature Hills Nursery to bring one home.
2. Batik
‘Batik’ is named after the traditional Indonesian technique of creating patterns on cloth using stamps or drawing to apply wax and then dying the fabric.
The resulting pattern has patches of undyed fabric surrounded by a base of dyed cloth.
The foliage on ‘Batik’ looks like it was created using this technique, with dark green, glossy leaves and white veins that bleed into the green.
3. Berry Allusion
The Allusion™ series of S. podophyllum features a variety of different arrowhead cultivars all with some form of pink coloration on the leaves or veins.
‘Berry Allusion’ features subtle pink highlights that are so faint it seems to merely allude to the color.
At first glance, you might think the foliage is just pale green and cream, but on closer examination, there are flecks of rose.
No surprise at all if this is a cultivar you’re interested in owning. It’s a real standout.
4. Bob Allusion
‘Bob Allusion’ has pale green leaves with dark emerald edging.
On top of that, the veins are deep pink. It’s the distinctive veins that makes this member of the Allusion™ series really stand out from the others.
5. Bold Allusion
For a more slow-growing arrowhead plant cultivar, look to ‘Bold Allusion.’
The delightfully smooth, slightly wavy leaves are pale green with pale pink veins, perfect for adding a bit of pastel coloration to your space.
6. Confetti
The rosy pink color on S. podophyllum ‘Confetti’ has just a hint of orange, making the foliage look like it’s covered in a celebration of spots, marbling, and splotches of rose gold.
The leaves on this of this arrowhead plant are particularly large, compared to many others.
You can find ‘Confetti’ in four-inch pots available via Walmart.
7. Cream Allusion
‘Cream Allusion’ is another arrowhead cultivar in the popular Allusion™series, sporting a dense growth habit and stunning leaves, which makes it quite the conversation starter!
Each medium-sized leaf has a deep emerald margin, a light green and yellow center, and a pink midrib. You can also see faint hints of pink in the leaves.
8. Holly
‘Holly’ features foliage that is almost entirely cream with a very thin margin of dark green around the edges.
Some leaves of this arrowhead plant might have a few splotches of emerald, as well. This cultivar has a particularly dense growth habit.
9. Julia Allusion
While many cultivars in the Allusion™ series have pink accents, ‘Julia Allusion’ is more of a copper color.
The leaves are predominantly yellowish-green but the veins and the area surrounding the veins is coppery-pink. It’s a dramatic effect.
10. Maria Allusion
With a combination of deep and light green streaked with pink, ‘Maria Allusion’ is a stunner.
The rose colored veins look like deep channels of an overflowing river.
A dark green outline completes the picture.
11. Merry Maria
‘Merry Maria’ has glossy deep green leaves with accents of pink, red, and copper.
As they mature, the leaves on this arrowhead plant gradually fade to solid green, giving you an ever-changing display.
12. Neon Robusta
Simply put, ‘Neon Robusta’ is a stunner. The foliage is almost entirely a dusty rose color with dark pink veins.
You might see hints of green, especially on the underside of the glossy leaves, but kept in bright sun the pink coloring is intense.
You can find three-packs of ‘Neon Robusta’ arrowhead plants in four-inch pots available from Home Depot.
13. Orm Nak
The hue on the foliage of ‘Orm Nak’ is so dark the leaves are almost a deep red color.
The glossy foliage has little, if any, green, but to maintain the reddish color you need to ensure you grow this arrowhead plant in sufficient light.
Low light conditions generally promote more green.
14. Painted Arrow
‘Painted Arrow’ looks like an artist pulled out their paintbrushes to give this plant a makeover.
The foliage has a dark green base, but splashed along the veins are cream and pale green streaks, giving it a unique, dramatic appearance.
15. Panda
‘Panda’ is a beautiful arrowhead cultivar with unique creamy variegation.
The pattern is always divided down the center vein, so one half of the leaf might be splotched and the other half might be speckled.
Or the majority of the leaf will be green with cream splotches on one side. You never know what pattern you’ll see as each new leaf emerges.
16. Pink Dream
‘Pink Dream’ is a stunning arrowhead. The foliage is entirely blushed pink with slightly darker pink veins.
In very low light, it will develop a touch of green on the edges of the leaves, but they’re still just as gorgeous.
17. Pink Fairy
‘Pink Fairy’ has a lot of fabulous things going on. First, the glossy leaves are wrinkled and rippled, giving them a unique texture.
The base color of the foliage is medium green, with veins and the area surrounding them a deep pink. The rest of each leaf has splotches of lighter sage.
You can find ‘Pink Fairy’ in two-and-a-half-inch pots available at Walmart.
18. Pixie
‘Pixie’ is an arrowhead cultivar that stands out not for its color, which is an admittedly lovely mixture of pale and deep green, but for its size.
This cultivar never grows taller than eight inches and has proportionally small leaves. A cute centerpiece for a table or accent among larger-leaved houseplants.
19. Plum Allusion
‘Plum Allusion’ has shiny, emerald green leaves with pink veins.
The pale pink can extend into the top of the leaf surface, making the leaves look like they’re blushing. This sweet beauty was bred using ‘White Butterfly’ as a parent.
20. Red Heart
Instead of arrow-shaped foliage, ‘Red Heart’ sports slightly rounded leaves that almost appear more heart shaped.
Add to that the salmon coloring on older leaves, with sage and cream new growth, and you have a plant that will steal your heart.
21. Regina Red
‘Regina Red’ was given its name thanks to the veins, which are distinctly red.
The leaves, on the other hand, are shades of salmon with a velvety texture and streaks of green throughout.
22. Strawberry Cream
Think of a big bowl of strawberries and cream with a basil garnish.
While this cultivar doesn’t look quite as appetizing, ‘Strawberry Cream’ is aptly named because the leaves are a beautiful pale blush with pale cream and green mixed throughout.
Make sure to place this beauty in bright (but indirect) light to ensure the most vibrant color.
23. White Butterfly
‘White Butterfly’ is wildly popular and it’s easy to see why. The leaves are rimmed with dark green surrounding dreamy white and light green centers.
This cultivar is a stunning addition to any houseplant collection.
Arrowheads Offer All Kinds of Interesting Variety
This list only scratches the surface of all the many colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes of Syngonium plants.
And there are new cultivars popping up constantly as plant breeders work their magic!
Which one of the plants on this list grabbed your attention? Is there one of your favorites that we’ve missed? Share with us in the comments section below!
And for more information about houseplants, whether you are just starting out or a seasoned green-thumb, we have plenty of guides that you are sure to love, like these:
