Flower profile
Golden pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a vine in the Araceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states.
Golden pothos is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Hawaii
Quick look
Epipremnum aureum is a species in the arum family Araceae, native to Mo'orea in the Society Islands of French Polynesia.
- It belongs to the Araceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a vine with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 2 states. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 1,727 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #20 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Not enough flowering records on iNaturalist to chart yet.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe
- Unknown We couldn't find this name in NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe
- Hawaii
- Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. HAR 13-107
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: medium). Poisonous parts: flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing, skin irritation, diarrhea” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Devils Ivy” (Epipremnum aureum) lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records golden pothos in 2 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Florida, Hawaii.
Hawaii counties with USDA records: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Native; Puerto Rico: Introduced; U.S. Virgin Islands: Introduced.
Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Philodendron nechodomii, Pothos aurea, Rhaphidophora aurea, Scindapsus aureus.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 26 counties across 6 states; the most are in Palau (11), Puerto Rico (6), Hawaii (4).
More from the Araceae family (7 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Jack-in-the-pulpit, Eastern skunk cabbage, Western skunk cabbage, Green dragon, Taro, Swiss cheese plant, Elephant ear.
More Hawaii flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile EPPI.
- iNaturalist, Epipremnum aureum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Epipremnum aureum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Hawaii: Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
- Hawaii: Hawaii noxious weed list (HAR 4-68).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Tyler Bishop via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.