After years of breeding and evaluation at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC), two new pothos cultivars, Snowy Stream and Green Isle, have been patented for their distinctive foliage characteristics in one of the world’s most popular houseplants. Developed by researchers Jianjun Chen, professor of horticultural sciences, and Richard Henny, MREC emeritus professor, the releases reflect ongoing efforts to introduce new, commercially viable foliage houseplants.

Thanks to support from the National Horticulture Foundation, the program has released several patented pothos cultivars in recent years, including Ivory Knight, Neon Queen and Marble Prince. Green Isle and Snowy Stream represent the latest outcomes of this research.

Both cultivars originate from the parent pothos cultivar Marble Queen but differ notably in appearance. Snowy Stream features four distinct colorations of bright white, greenish white, gray-green and green arranged in irregular patches. Its acuminate leaves are long, slender, slightly concave and gently curved inward. Green Isle is characterized by its dark green foliage and sickle-shaped leaves.

From left to right: Marble Queen, Snowy Stream and Green Isle. UF/IFAS Photos by Richard Henny and Jianjun Chen.

Unlike many crops, pothos does not flower naturally. Henny and Chen induced flowering in Marble Queen by spraying a gibberellic acid solution, a plant hormone known to promote flowering. Through self-pollination, they selected Snowy Stream. Green Isle was later isolated from tissue-cultured plants derived from Snowy Stream.

Although induced flowering and pollination were used in developing Snowy Stream, pothos is predominantly propagated by cuttings. Long-term cutting propagation can lead to genetic changes, called somatic mutations, as plants are repeatedly propagated. Using in vitro breeding, a laboratory-based breeding technique that enables the selection and propagation of plants through tissue culture, breeders like Chen and Henny can identify plants with different morphological traits, or appearances. Some of these plants may eventually be developed into entirely new varieties.

“Our goal is to introduce cultivars that offer something noteworthy while still being practical to produce and easy to care for,” Chen says.

With the patents in place, Chen and his team will continue to evaluate Snowy Stream as a source of future cultivars through in vitro breeding. They hope to add additional variants with unique and valuable market traits.

While pothos is one of the most popular foliage plants worldwide, it is classified in Florida as a Category II invasive species, meaning it has increased in abundance but has not yet altered Florida plant communities to the extent seen in Category I species. For this reason, pothos should be kept as indoor foliage and not planted outdoors or used as groundcovers in Florida landscapes.

Preventing the spread of invasive plants is critical to protecting Florida’s native ecosystem. Invasive species can displace native species, reduce biodiversity, and alter natural habitats. To learn more about invasive species in Florida or to report sightings, visit UF/IFAS Extension’s informational webpage.

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