Syngonium White Butterfly

🌿 Botanical Overview

• Scientific Name: Syngonium podophyllum ‘White Butterfly’

• Common Names: White Butterfly Syngonium, Arrowhead Plant, Goosefoot Plant

• Family: Araceae

• Origin: Native to tropical rainforests of Central and South America

• Type: Evergreen climbing or trailing vine

🌱 Description

The White Butterfly Syngonium is one of the most popular Syngonium varieties, loved for its elegant arrow-shaped leaves with a creamy white to light green variegation and soft green edges. The foliage starts out heart-shaped when young and becomes more lobed or divided as it matures. It has a compact, bushy form early in life and can become a trailing or climbing vine with age.

🌤️ Light Requirements

• Prefers bright, indirect light.

• Tolerates low light, but the variegation may fade to solid green.

• Avoid direct sun, which can scorch the delicate leaves.

💧 Watering

• Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy.

• Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.

• Reduce watering slightly in winter when growth slows.

🌡️ Temperature & Humidity

• Ideal Temperature: 65–80°F (18–27°C)

• Humidity: Enjoys high humidity, but tolerates average home levels.

• Benefits from misting or a nearby humidifier in dry environments.

🌸 Growth Habit

• Starts compact and bushy, later develops climbing or trailing vines up to 3–6 ft indoors.

• Can be trained on a moss pole or left to cascade from a hanging basket.

🌾 Soil

• Prefers well-draining, airy soil — a mix of potting soil, perlite, and peat or coco coir works best.

• Avoid dense, water-retentive mixes.

🌿 Fertilizer

• Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer (diluted to half strength) every 4–6 weeks during the growing season (spring–summer).

• No need to fertilize in winter.

⚠️ Toxicity

• Toxic to pets and humans if ingested. Contains calcium oxalate crystals that can cause irritation.

🪴 Propagation

• Easy to propagate from stem cuttings in water or soil.

• Choose a cutting with at least one node and healthy roots.

💚 Care Tips

• Rotate the plant regularly for even growth.

• Prune back leggy vines to maintain a full, bushy shape.

• Wipe leaves to remove dust and enhance shine.

✨ Fun Fact

The “White Butterfly” name comes from the graceful, wing-like shape of its variegated leaves, resembling a butterfly in flight.