Pothos vs. Philodendron: What's the Difference and Which Should You Buy?

You have seen both plants everywhere — trailing from shelves, vining up walls, cascading from hanging baskets. They look remarkably similar. Both have heart-shaped leaves. Both are easy to grow. Both come in green and variegated varieties.

So what is the actual difference between a Pothos and a Heartleaf Philodendron — and does it matter when you are choosing which to buy?

It matters more than you think. Here is the complete breakdown.

Side-by-Side Overview

Feature	Pothos	Heartleaf Philodendron
Scientific name	Epipremnum aureum	Philodendron hederaceum
Leaf texture	Thicker, waxy, slightly stiff	Thinner, softer, more velvety
Leaf shape	Heart-shaped, slightly asymmetrical	Heart-shaped, more elongated
New leaves	Unfurl from existing stem	Emerge from a small cataphyll (papery sheath)
Petiole shape	Flattened, with slight groove	Rounded, cylindrical
Light needs	Tolerates lower light	Slightly prefers medium-bright
Growth speed	Fast	Fast (slightly faster in good light)
Toxicity	Toxic to cats and dogs	Toxic to cats and dogs

How to Tell Them Apart

If you already have a plant and are not sure which one it is:

Check the petiole (the stem connecting the leaf to the main vine):

• Pothos petioles are flattened or grooved, not perfectly round
• Philodendron petioles are smooth and cylindrical

Check how new leaves emerge:

• Pothos new leaves unfurl directly from the existing stem
• Philodendron new leaves emerge from a small papery sheath called a cataphyll, which dries and falls off as the leaf matures

Check leaf texture:

• Pothos leaves feel slightly waxy and stiffer
• Philodendron leaves feel softer, almost velvety when young

The Care Differences

Both are forgiving — but there are meaningful differences in their preferences.

Light

Pothos tolerates lower light more gracefully. It will survive in a room 8–10 feet from a window, though it grows faster with more light. Variegated varieties (Golden Pothos, Marble Queen) lose their variegation in low light, reverting to mostly green.

Heartleaf Philodendron also tolerates low to medium light, but it is slightly more eager for brightness. In bright indirect light, it grows noticeably faster and produces larger, glossier leaves.

Winner for low light: Pothos, by a small margin.

Watering

Both plants are forgiving of irregular watering. The practical difference:

• Pothos will visibly droop when it needs water — a clear, reliable signal
• Heartleaf Philodendron shows stress more subtly; wait for the top inch of soil to dry before watering

Both should be watered every 1–2 weeks depending on conditions.

Winner for beginner-friendly watering cues: Pothos.

Growth Habit

Both trail and vine. The differences in practice:

• Pothos produces slightly thicker, more robust vines that trail heavily — great for shelves where you want heavy cascading
• Heartleaf Philodendron produces slightly longer, more delicate vines — better for climbing on a moss pole or trellis

The Varieties

Both plants come in interesting varieties:

Pothos varieties

• Golden Pothos — classic green with yellow variegation
• Marble Queen — heavy white/cream variegation, striking
• Neon Pothos — solid bright chartreuse green, no variegation
• N'Joy — white and green, slower-growing, highly decorative
• Satin Pothos — silver-blue sheen, more unusual

Heartleaf Philodendron varieties

• Standard heartleaf — classic mid-green, fast-growing
• Brasil — green and yellow stripe, faster-growing than most variegated plants
• Micans — velvety deep green/bronze with iridescent sheen, one of the most beautiful trailing plants available
• Silver Sword — silver-blue elongated leaves, very different look

Which Should You Buy?

Buy Pothos if:

• You are a beginner who wants the most forgiving option
• Your space gets lower light
• You want a plant that clearly tells you when it needs water
• You want the most variety at the lowest price point
• You want heavy, bold trailing cascades

Buy Heartleaf Philodendron if:

• You have medium to bright indirect light
• You want to train something up a moss pole or trellis
• You want a slightly more delicate, elegant trailing plant
• You are interested in more unusual varieties like Micans

Honest answer: Both are excellent. If you are deciding between them for a first plant, start with Pothos — it is marginally more forgiving. If you already have a Pothos and want something similar but different, add a Philodendron. They look great side by side.

Shop Both

We stock multiple varieties of both Pothos and Heartleaf Philodendron — from small starters to established hanging basket size.

Shop Pothos

Shop Philodendron

Which do you prefer — Pothos or Philodendron? Tell us in the comments.