Pothos vs Philodendron: How to Tell Them Apart
The most commonly confused plant pair in the hobby. Spoiler: it doesn't matter much, but here's how to know which one you actually have.
The Quick Answer
If you’ve ever bought a “heartleaf philodendron” and wondered whether it’s really a philodendron, or looked at your pothos and thought it looked suspiciously like a philodendron - you’re not alone. These two plants aren’t even in the same genus, but they fool most people because they share a similar vining growth habit and show up in every grocery store and hardware store nursery section.
Here’s how to tell them apart, and why it mostly doesn’t matter for your purposes.
They’re Not Actually Related (Sort Of)
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) and the heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) are both aroids, which means they’re in the family Araceae. That shared family is why they look vaguely similar - same general body plan, same tropical origins, same climbing instincts. But they’re as different as a dog and a wolf: related, but distinct genera that evolved separately.
This matters because a lot of plant sellers label things incorrectly. A “devil’s ivy” is pothos. A “sweetheart plant” is probably philodendron. A “golden pothos” is definitely pothos. Marketing names are chaos. The physical differences are more reliable.
The Physical Differences
Leaf Texture
This is the easiest tell once you know it.
Pothos leaves are noticeably thicker and have a slightly waxy, almost plasticky surface. You can feel the stiffness. The leaf has a bit of a sheen to it.
Philodendron leaves are thinner and softer. They feel more like fabric than plastic. A mature heartleaf philodendron leaf has a matte texture and bends easily.
Leaf Shape
Both have roughly heart-shaped leaves, but the details differ.
Pothos leaves aren’t perfectly symmetrical. The base of the leaf where it meets the stem is often slightly uneven, with one lobe larger than the other. The overall shape is more irregular.
Philodendron leaves tend to be more uniformly heart-shaped, with a deeper, more defined sinus (the notch at the base where the stem attaches). A classic heartleaf philodendron leaf looks more like a cartoon heart. Pothos looks more like a pointed oval that someone nudged asymmetrically.
The Cataphyll - the Definitive Test
This is the difference that botanists actually care about, and once you see it you can never un-see it.
Philodendrons produce a cataphyll with every new leaf. A cataphyll is a small papery or waxy sheath that wraps around the new growth as it emerges, like a protective sleeve. When the new leaf unfurls, the cataphyll stays on the stem for a while before drying up and falling off. On a heartleaf philodendron it looks like a tiny pale green or brown papery wrapper clinging to the stem near the newest growth.
Pothos produces no cataphyll. New leaves emerge directly from the node, wrapped in the previous leaf’s base, with no separate sheath. If you see that papery wrapper, it’s a philodendron. If you don’t, it’s almost certainly pothos.
Aerial Roots
Both plants produce aerial roots to attach to surfaces and absorb moisture. But they look different.
Pothos produces one thick, stubby aerial root per node. It’s singular and fairly substantial.
Philodendron produces several thinner aerial roots per node, often in a cluster. They look more like a small bundle of threads than a single root.
Care Comparison
Here’s the good news: they want nearly the same things.
| Pothos | Philodendron | |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Low to bright indirect | Low to bright indirect |
| Watering | Let soil dry halfway | Let soil dry halfway |
| Humidity | Tolerant of dry air | Prefers 50%+ humidity |
| Temperature | 60-85F (15-29C) | 60-85F (15-29C) |
| Fertilizer | Monthly, diluted | Monthly, diluted |
| Toxicity | Toxic to pets | Toxic to pets |
The one practical difference: philodendrons are slightly more sensitive to dry air. In a normal home with average humidity (30-50%), both will be fine. But if you run the heat hard in winter and your home gets very dry, the heartleaf philodendron might show more brown leaf edges. Pothos shrugs it off better.
Common Misidentifications
The heartleaf philodendron (P. hederaceum) is the one most often confused with pothos. Other philodendrons (Brasil, micans, velvet-leaf varieties) are usually distinct enough that people don’t mix them up.
On the pothos side, the main source of confusion is Epipremnum aureum in its green or golden form, before it develops the characteristic variegation. Young, solid-green pothos looks remarkably similar to a young heartleaf philodendron.
If you’re still not sure: look for the cataphyll on new growth. That’s your answer.
Which Should You Buy?
Honestly? Buy whichever one you find or like the look of.
Pothos if: you want something that tolerates drought, neglect, and dry air without complaint. It’s a genuinely unkillable houseplant in most conditions. The golden, marble queen, and neon varieties offer distinct looks in the same care profile.
Heartleaf philodendron if: you like a softer, more lush appearance and you have slightly more consistent care habits. The Brasil variety (green with a yellow center stripe) is one of the most underrated easy plants around.
Both are good starter plants. Both trail beautifully. Both survive the amount of neglect that most people subject their plants to. The “which is better” debate is mostly just hobbyist trivia at this level.
Learn to tell them apart so you can buy what you actually want. Then enjoy whichever one you end up with.