Dragon tail
Also called Cebu blue pothos, Centipede tongavine.
| Light | bright indirect light |
|---|---|
| Water | Every 8 days in the growing season, every 16 in winter |
| Humidity | medium |
| Difficulty | easy |
| Height | Up to 250 cm (98 in) tall |
| Pets | Cats toxic, dogs toxic |
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, toxic and non-toxic plants, Devil's Ivy entry.
Toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. The ASPCA entry for Devil's Ivy is Epipremnum aureum, a close relative, listed as toxic to cats, dogs and horses through insoluble calcium oxalates. Treat this species the same way. Keep it where an animal that eats houseplants cannot reach it, and speak to a vet if one does. In South Africa telephone the Poison Information Helpline on 0861 555 777; in the US, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.
A close relative of the common pothos that looks nothing like it. The juvenile leaves are narrow, pointed and washed with a metallic blue green, which is what the form sold as Cebu Blue is bought for. Given a pole to climb, the same plant matures into something else entirely: large leaves deeply cut almost to the midrib, more like a monstera than a pothos. It is just as easy as its cousin, tolerating medium light and irregular watering, and it roots from any cutting with a node. What it shares with the rest of the family is the calcium oxalate, so it is not a plant for a household with an animal that chews the foliage.
Ailments observed
| New leaves with no splits or holes | Trailing rather than climbing, and probably not bright enough. Give it a moss pole. This species changes dramatically when it climbs, from small blue lance shaped leaves to large deeply cut ones. |
|---|---|
| Yellow leaves at the bottom of the plant | Compost kept too wet. Let the top third dry out between waterings. It is more drought tolerant than it looks. |
Filed underPlants that forgive a beginner, Plants for a balcony or a small space
Neighbouring entries
English ivy
Hedera helixEnglish ivy care indoors and out, with the cool bright spot it wants, why spider mites arrive, and how to root a cutting in a fortnight.
Heartleaf philodendron
Philodendron hederaceumHeartleaf philodendron care for a shelf or a pole, with how often to water, why the stems go leggy, and how to root a cutting in a week or two.
Pothos
Epipremnum aureumPothos care made simple, with a seasonal watering interval, the light it really needs to keep its variegation, and quick fixes for yellow or limp leaves.