Disclosure: Amazon links on this page are affiliate links, so this site may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commissions don’t decide which products are recommended. See the full affiliate disclosure.
Cebu Blue pothos is Epipremnum pinnatum 'Cebu Blue', a cultivar of a different species from golden pothos, and it is not a philodendron. NC State Extension says its blue-green leaves typically stay in the juvenile form, but "if allowed to grow on a stake or moss pole, the leaves mature and become fenestrated like the species." NC State lists the species as toxic to cats, dogs and humans if ingested.
What Cebu Blue pothos is
NC State Extension lists 'Cebu Blue' as a cultivar of Epipremnum pinnatum, and Clemson HGIC lists it as "Cebu Blue Pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum 'Cebu Blue')." Kew's Plants of the World Online accepts Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl. in the arum family, Araceae, gives its native range as "Tropical & Subtropical Asia to Pacific," and describes it as a climber of the wet tropical biome.
It is not golden pothos. Golden pothos is Epipremnum aureum; the ASPCA's Taro Vine entry lists Golden Pothos as a common name for that species. NC State explains that E. aureum was once treated as a cultivar of E. pinnatum, but "botanists determined that the two have distinctively different vegetative features and should be recognized as separate species." POWO accepts Epipremnum aureum as its own species and does not list E. pinnatum among its synonyms. Clemson notes that care for E. pinnatum is similar to that of E. aureum, so the pothos care guide is a reasonable companion.
It is not a philodendron. Both POWO and NC State place the plant in the genus Epipremnum. The name Philodendron pinnatum does exist, but only as an old synonym: POWO lists "Philodendron pinnatum (L.) André" (1866) among the species' synonyms, and NC State lists it under "previously known as." Neither source explains why the plant is sometimes sold under the philodendron name. For how the two genera compare as houseplants, see pothos vs. philodendron and the philodendron care guide.
How to identify Cebu Blue
- Leaves: NC State describes 'Cebu Blue' as having "small, narrow, lance-shaped blue-green leaves," and Clemson describes "slender, pointed leaves" with "silvery-blue foliage" (NC State, Clemson).
- Size: NC State gives 'Cebu Blue' a trailing length of 5 to 6 feet, and Clemson calls it the "smallest E. pinnatum cultivar" (NC State, Clemson).
- Leaf form: NC State says the leaves "typically remain in the juvenile form of this species," and Clemson lists "small fenestrations in its leaves" (NC State, Clemson).
NC State lists four other E. pinnatum cultivars. Its descriptions help separate them from 'Cebu Blue':
| Cultivar | NC State description |
|---|---|
| 'Cebu Blue' | "trailing 5 to 6 feet, small, narrow, lance-shaped blue-green leaves" (NC State) |
| "Baltic Blue" | "deep blue-green leaves with fenestrations" (NC State) |
| 'Albo-Variegata' | "large, serrated, dark green leaves with creamy white variegation, slower growing" (NC State) |
| 'Marble King' | "creamy white, small, ovate leaves with spots of green" (NC State) |
| 'Skeleton Key' | "large dark green leaves with narrow pointed tip similar to a key" (NC State) |
Neither NC State nor Clemson describes a variegated form of 'Cebu Blue'. NC State's list of E. pinnatum cultivars includes 'Albo-Variegata' (creamy white variegation) and 'Marble King' ("creamy white, small, ovate leaves with spots of green"); neither is described as a form of 'Cebu Blue'.
Juvenile vs. mature leaves, and when fenestrations appear
NC State describes two leaf stages for the species, E. pinnatum. "Its juvenile leaves are elliptical or arrow-shaped with entire margins." Then, as the plant "matures and gains sufficient height," NC State says the mature leaves become "thick, leathery, ovate and pinnatifid," with "fenestrations (openings or windows) in the leaf blade." NC State gives mature leaves of the species a length of 12 to 20 inches (NC State).
For 'Cebu Blue' specifically, NC State says the leaves typically stay juvenile, and adds: "If allowed to grow on a stake or moss pole, the leaves mature and become fenestrated like the species" (NC State). Clemson makes the same point about E. pinnatum in general: "a moss pole or wooden rod may be needed to allow the plant to grow large enough to develop its signature fenestrated leaves," and its cultivars show "their most distinctive features when grown vertically" (Clemson).
Neither source gives an age, a vine length or a timeline for when the first fenestrated leaf appears. Both tie it to the plant growing upward on a support.
Cebu Blue pothos care
These are NC State's recommendations for the species, Epipremnum pinnatum, plus Clemson's pothos guidance, which covers Epipremnum species including 'Cebu Blue'.
Light. NC State says the species "prefers bright, indirect sunlight" and rates it for partial shade, defined as direct sun for 2 to 6 hours a day (NC State). Clemson says pothos "prefer bright, indirect light but will tolerate lower lighting conditions" (Clemson).
Water and soil. NC State: "The soil should be moist, well-drained, and rich in organic matter with a slightly acidic pH," and "overwatering will cause fungal and bacterial diseases which can lead to root rot" (NC State). Clemson says the soil "should be allowed to dry between each watering," to water thoroughly so water reaches all the roots, and to use "an airy, well-draining soil mix" (Clemson). See root rot for symptoms and fixes.
Temperature and humidity. NC State says the species prefers warm temperatures and moderate humidity and advises, "Avoid exposing the plant to drafts or cold air" (NC State). Clemson gives pothos a range of 60°F to 70°F at night and 70°F to 85°F during the day, a preferred humidity of 50 to 70%, and notes that pothos tolerate the 30 to 60% typical of homes (Clemson).
Feeding. Clemson lists overwatering or low fertility as causes of yellow pothos leaves and suggests "fertilizing with a houseplant fertilizer every other month during the spring and summer" (Clemson).
Pests. NC State says to monitor the species for mealybugs, scale, thrips and spider mites (NC State).
Climbing support
In the wild, NC State says the species "climbs the trunks of rainforest trees, sometimes losing contact with the ground and becoming completely epiphytic." For houseplants it says the vine needs support for its long stems and suggests "a wooden stake, bamboo stake, or a sphagnum moss pole" (NC State). Clemson describes pothos as vines that wrap around tree trunks in nature, which "can be emulated at home with a moss pole or a wooden rod" (Clemson).
Because NC State links fenestration in 'Cebu Blue' to growing on a stake or moss pole, a support changes how the plant looks, not only where it grows. NC State also describes these plants as suited to hanging baskets or vertical spaces (NC State). For setting up a pole, see how to use a moss pole or build a DIY moss pole.
Propagation
NC State's guidance for the species is short: "Propagate with stem cuttings" (NC State). Clemson adds that pothos stem cuttings "can be easily rooted when placed in soil or water, but they should have at least one node to root properly" (Clemson). The steps in how to propagate pothos apply.
Is Cebu Blue pothos toxic to cats and dogs?
NC State's Epipremnum pinnatum page says, "If ingested, this plant is toxic to cats, dogs, and humans." It rates the poison severity as medium, names calcium oxalate crystals as the toxic principle and the leaves and stems as the poisonous parts, and lists these symptoms: "mouth and throat irritation, drooling, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and swallowing" (NC State).
No ASPCA entry located for this guide gives Epipremnum pinnatum as its scientific name, and the ASPCA's plant list has no entries under the common names NC State gives the species (Cebu Blue, Centipede Tongavine, Dragon-Tail Plant, Silver Vine, Tibatib) except one, Taro Vine. The ASPCA's Taro Vine entry gives its scientific name as Epipremnum aureum, golden pothos, and lists it as toxic to dogs and cats. That entry covers golden pothos, not Cebu Blue. For golden pothos, see are pothos toxic to cats?
If a pet chewed or swallowed part of the plant, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Frequently asked
Related: Silver Sword philodendron, another climbing aroid with silvery-blue leaves, and are philodendrons toxic to cats?
Sources: NC State Extension: Epipremnum pinnatum, Clemson HGIC: How to Grow Pothos Indoors, Kew POWO: Epipremnum pinnatum, Kew POWO: Epipremnum aureum, ASPCA: Taro Vine, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center