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Pothos are beautiful plants at the best of time and very popular in many households where they elegantly wind their ways up supports and gracefully hang from baskets. Having a rare Pothos is truly lucky.
As houseplants they make great additions because they are easy to grow and require very little in the way of maintenance. You can normally recognise them by the feathery, glossy leaves.
Pothos are also known as Devil’s Ivy, and they thrive in indirect bright light areas. They need very good drainage to do well, and ideally like high humidity levels.
The best temperature for the Pothos is between 18°C – 29°C and the appreciate fertilizer every month during the growing season.
It is interesting to note that there is only one natural species of Pothos which is the Epipremnum aureum. Although many varieties have been developed by horticulturists, they remain cultivars and there are no Pothos hybrids.
What this means for the avid collector is that there are several Pothos which are rare because of the difficulty in obtaining them, so you can expect to pay a little more for these rarest of pothos varieties.
Let’s Look at the Top 10 Rarest Pothos Varieties
1) Harlequin Pothos
This is normally considered to be the rarest of the Pothos, and it certainly may be difficult to get your hands on one of them.
If you do track this down then make sure you only buy from a reputable dealer as it is commonly mistaken for a different type and often mislabelled.
The scientific name for the Harlequin Pothos is Epipremnum Aureum Harlequin although you may find it simply labelled as Harlequin.
Make sure that this is all the information on the label as you may find yourself buying the Manjula Pothos instead.
Harlequins get their name from the unique leaves which are extremely variegated with large areas of white interspersed with green.
They are more variegated than the Manjula Pothos, however, the confusion comes from the similarity of the leaves as they are both wide teardrop in shape.
You can recognize the Harlequin because there should be much more green and white variegation.
2) Manjula Pothos
The heart shaped leaves are a great favourite among Pothos collectors. They are large with stunning green and cream markings.
These are often difficult to track down and you may need to contact a shop that specialises in rare plants to buy one.
If you do manage to buy one, you will be delighted at how beautiful and low maintenance the plant is.
This cultivar was developed by the University of Florida, who states that this plant should be kept away from both children and pets as it is toxic to both should any part be ingested.
A point to note here is that because the University of Florida still holds the patent to the Pothos, you are not allowed to reproduce it.
The Manjula is rare because of the variegation on the leaves and the peculiar heart shaped leaves. While they are heart shaped they curl at the tips and very seldom lie flat like other varieties.
The colours of the leaves range from white to silver, cream and green and are often likened to abstract paintings.
It is important that you are careful with the light the Pothos receives as this can affect the colours so be prepared to move your plant around and find a happy balance for the colours.
3) Emerald Pothos
This Pothos is also considered to be among the rarest because it is hard to find. They are rare because of the unique leaf shape and the green-on-green variegation which does not show up in any other Pothos.
These Pothos grow very well in hanging baskets as they are a cascading type which will trail down as it grows. As with most other Pothos this plant must not be placed in direct sunlight because it will change the leaf colour.
4) Jessenia Pothos
The variegated effect of these leaves is a sort of marbling appearance, and the leaves look more delicate than other Pothos. You will also see that the two shades of green are very close.
The two green shades are called chartreuse and dark emerald and together with small areas of white will give the well-known marble appearance.
Because the colour in this Pothos is regarded as stable it can be placed in areas with differing light and still do well.
Bright spots will bring out the beautiful colour formations of the marble leaves and placed where people can view the plant at close is a good idea so it can be enjoyed.
5) Global Green Pothos
This Pothos is far less common than others such as the Golden or Jade Pothos so if you come across one, you may want to snap it up.
These are one of the lesser well-known Pothos although over the last few years they have gained in popularity.
The leaves are a rich green and beautifully textured. They have a lime and emerald colouring to them which gives them their special appeal.
6) Moonlight Pothos
This is also known as Moonlight Scindapsus and they trail beautifully. The heart shaped leaves are delicate and have a silvery blue tinge to them. The plant is easy to train to climb or trail.
Once you have set them on their course, they will gracefully wind themselves around stakes, poles, trellises, and other supports. They will also do well in hanging baskets.
7) Glacier Pothos
The leaves on this Pothos are bright white and soft green and this is one Pothos that you may start to see more frequently in good garden centres now. They used to be very hard to find but seem to be more readily available these days.
Because this is a small, variegated variety that is more suitable for coffee tables and on desks, ideal for smaller spaces while still looking spectacular.
The leaves are broad and have well defined markings in creamy white and emerald green.
This plant – because of the smaller size – does not look at its best is placed high up to trail down. Ideally it looks best as a centrepiece on a table.
If you want to use this Pothos as a basket plant then choose a small basket which hangs lower, preferably at eye level.
This Pothos does well when trimmed regularly as it will grow fuller and more luscious. Low light, however, will make it lose the white shades and the greens will be more prominent, so pay attention to where it is placed.
8) Neon Pothos
This Pothos has been described as having the most perfect leaves of all the Pothos varieties as they are perfectly formed heart shaped.
The name, however, comes because of the stunning neon green colour. The younger leaves are shiny green and bright, among the brightest green leaves you will see on a plant.
The leaves will start off a little lighter and then turn to the perfect neon green shade and the plant is not susceptible to low light conditions like others are.
So, while it would prefer to be in bright indirect light, it will also do well in low light with no bad effects on the leaf colourings.
9) Jade Pothos
This brilliant green Pothos is rather slow growing during the winter months although it speeds up in the warmer months so do not worry about the lack of size if you buy it in the winter.
Jades are solid green in colour and can spread themselves out to lengths of up to 30’ long. However, they look better when kept around the 6’ mark.
One good thing about this Pothos is that it can withstand different lighting conditions, although it does best in indirect, bright light in south or north facing windows.
This Pothos would prefer to only receive water that is distilled or rainwater as tap water will leave minerals building up in the soil.
10) Satin Pothos
The leaves on this Pothos are pale green with flecks of silver to them. They have a velvety look to them and trail beautifully.
The Satin Pothos can withstand a certain amount of neglect although overwatering will leave you with a very unhappy plant.
The rate of growth is slow even in the growing months and dappled light will not harm it.
One thing to be aware of with this Pothos is that it is toxic to pets, both dogs and cats.
Final Thoughts
If you are planning to increase your Pothos collection and want to include some rare plants, then make sure you only source them from a reputable seller.
Do your homework and never buy from anyone who seems to be selling the plants at vastly reduced prices.
A genuine rare Pothos will set you back a little and getting it at bargain prices should leave you questioning where it has come from or if in fact it is the ‘real deal.’
Pothos are magnificent plants and can grace a spot anywhere in the home, no reason why you should not have one or two, or even more!
