JUNE 2019 WNY GARDENING MATTERS ARTICLE 109

THE LOVELIEST SPRING NATIVE POTHOS Epipremnum aureum WILDFLOWER by Lisa Marie Gee by Carol Ann Harlos othos is a native plant of the with the exception of mealybugs. he loveliest of all wildflowers, island of Mo’orea in French If this occurs use insecticidal soap Mertensia virginica, has PPolynesia. It is naturalized in or dab each one with rubbing emerged in partial to full many other tropical and subtropical alcohol, soaked on a cotton swab. T forests in Southeast Asia, South shade in woods or in gardens. The All parts of this plant are toxic. When buds of Virginia bluebell will unfold Asia and the Pacific islands. In some areas it is considered an invasive. It ingested pothos can cause irritation and the bright green plant stems and vomiting as it contains calcium will grow from one to two feet. is hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11 and will grow in shade to partial oxalates. In sensitive people the sap The bell-shaped flowers are pinkish can cause a rash. Keep your pets away! -blue and as they age they gradually shade outside. Pothos is an easy turn pink. Self fertilization is rare to grow houseplant that doesn’t Try pothos as an easy houseplant due to the flower structure. Nectar require a lot of sunlight. This makes that you can almost neglect and sipping butterflies are the most it a great plant for the house, still have success. Recommended common pollinators. Each flower office or dorm rooms as it can cultivars are ‘Marble Queen’, ‘Pearls can produce up to four seeds. survive with fluorescent lighting or and Jade’, ‘Neon’ and ‘Silver Satin’. bright indirect light from outside. This native species is common throughout the eastern half of Pothos is a long growing leafy vine. North America, although they In the tropical jungles it can reach grow easily almost anywhere. This 70 feet in length. Indoors it can member of the Boraginaceae family reach up to 30 feet. Pothos trails and a relative of borage, comfrey, so it can be trained onto supports. heliotrope, Brunnera (false forget- It will not trellis itself. The leaves me-not), Pulmonaria (lungwort), are heart shaped and can be green Viper’s Bugloss, and Forget-Me- or variegated with white, yellow or Nots is a spring ephemeral. This pale green depending on the variety. means that after blooming is Pothos needs ordinary well-draining complete the plant disappears until potting soil with a slightly acidic pH. next year. It spreads by seeds, so When it becomes pot bound it can gradually a colony of plants appears. be repotted in a container 1-2 sizes Gardeners can also propagate larger in fresh potting soil. Leaves Virginia bluebells by dividing the droop when it needs water. The soil rhizomes. The other good news should dry out between the waterings is that Virginia bluebells are not so the roots don't decay. One can usually favored by deer or rabbits. fertilize every three months but this Cornell Cooperative Extension is an is often not necessary. Cut back plant employer and educator recognized for stems to keep foliage full. If stems valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities; and grow bare cut them back to soil provides equal program and employment level to rejuvenate the plant. Pothos opportunities. can be propagated by stem cuttings placed in water or soil. If rooted in water transplant as soon as possible into soil to produce stronger roots. There are usually no pests on this plant © Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved photo by Carol Ann Harlos