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Snow Queen is a white-variegated pothos that Clemson Extension's Home and Garden Information Center and NC State Extension list as a cultivar of Epipremnum aureum. Clemson describes predominantly white leaves speckled with green and says that, unlike Marble Queen, it has no large green spots and clearer white variegation. It belongs to the species the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs.
What Snow Queen pothos is
Clemson HGIC lists "Snow Queen Pothos (E. aureum 'Snow Queen')" among its pothos cultivars, and NC State Extension's E. aureum page lists 'Snow Queen' with "highly variegated green and white leaves." Neither source gives a breeder or origin.
Epipremnum aureum (Linden & André) G.S.Bunting is an accepted species in Kew's Plants of the World Online, which gives its native range as the Society Islands (Mo'orea) and describes it as a climber of the wet tropical biome. Older records may use another species name: NC State explains that E. aureum "was treated as a cultivar of Epipremnum pinnatum" until botanists recognized the two as separate species, and that "Plants formerly called E. pinnatum 'Aureum' are now correctly called E. aureum."
How to identify Snow Queen pothos
Clemson's entry describes "Predominantly white leaves speckled with green" and adds: "Unlike Marble Queen, it has no large green spots and clearer white variegation." NC State describes "highly variegated green and white leaves." Neither source describes Snow Queen's leaf shape or size.
Light affects the variegation. Clemson says "lower light may cause variegated varieties to lose some of their coloring," and NC State says "Low light can cause loss of variegation," so judge the pattern on leaves grown in bright light.
Snow Queen vs. Marble Queen
Clemson notes that Marble Queen is "Often confused with the Snow Queen cultivar." The table sets out what the sources that name both cultivars say about each.
| Trait | Snow Queen | Marble Queen | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf color | "Predominantly white leaves speckled with green" | "Striking white or cream variegation" | Clemson HGIC |
| Green on the leaf | No large green spots; clearer white variegation | More green on its leaves | Clemson HGIC |
| Growth rate | Slower than Marble Queen | Grows faster than Snow Queen | Clemson HGIC |
| Light | "Needs lots of bright, indirect light to ensure adequate growth" | "Requires more light than other varieties" | Clemson HGIC |
| Leaf shape | Not described | "Pointed leaves" | Clemson HGIC |
| NC State's description | "highly variegated green and white leaves" | "green leaves and stems that are marbled with white" | NC State |
By Clemson's descriptions, the amount and pattern of green is the main tell: large green spots and more green overall point to Marble Queen, while mostly white leaves with green speckling point to Snow Queen. NC State also describes Marble Queen's stems as marbled with white, and neither source says the same of Snow Queen's stems. Because NC State says low light can cause loss of variegation, compare plants grown in similar, bright light.
One more Marble Queen detail comes from a plant patent. The patent for the N'Joy pothos, PP19,965, compares N'Joy with its parent, Marble Queen, which it says "characteristically has no more than 2 shades of green." The patent does not mention Snow Queen.
For Marble Queen next to Golden and Neon pothos, see golden vs. Marble Queen vs. Neon pothos.
Snow Queen vs. Manjula, N'Joy and Pearls and Jade
| Cultivar | How the sources describe it | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Snow Queen | Predominantly white leaves speckled with green; no large green spots | Clemson HGIC |
| Manjula | Broad, upright leaves with pointed tips; coloring similar to Pearls and Jade; slower growing, bushy | Clemson HGIC |
| N'Joy | Small, thinner, green leaves with cream colored variegation (listed as Beautifall 'Njoy') | NC State |
| Pearls and Jade | Light and dark green speckled leaves with large white spots; teardrop-shaped, smaller than other cultivars | Clemson HGIC |
The Manjula pothos guide compares Manjula with each of these in more detail.
Growth habit
Clemson says Marble Queen grows faster than Snow Queen, and that Snow Queen "Needs lots of bright, indirect light to ensure adequate growth."
The rest is species-level. Clemson describes pothos as "a vining plant that typically wraps around tree trunks in nature," a habit that a moss pole or wooden rod can stand in for at home. NC State says E. aureum in a container "generally retains its juvenile leaf shape," and that with "a support on which to climb and adequate light" it begins to produce large, mature leaves; it lists a leaf length of 3 to 6 inches for the species. Missouri Botanical Garden says the species typically reaches 6 to 8 feet as a houseplant. None of these figures is specific to Snow Queen.
Care
Clemson's light guidance is specific to Snow Queen; the rest of the table is species-level guidance for E. aureum or pothos as a group.
| Need | Guidance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Lots of bright, indirect light to ensure adequate growth (Snow Queen); lower light may cause variegated varieties to lose some of their coloring | Clemson HGIC |
| Water | Let the soil dry between waterings, then water thoroughly so water reaches all the roots | Clemson HGIC, NC State |
| Humidity | Prefers 50 to 70%; tolerates the 30 to 60% of an average home; a humidifier can add more | Clemson HGIC |
| Temperature | 60 to 70°F (16 to 21°C) at night and 70 to 85°F (21 to 29°C) during the day; keep away from air-conditioning vents in summer and windowsills and heating vents in winter | Clemson HGIC |
| Soil | An airy, well-draining mix; most plants can be repotted once every year or two | Clemson HGIC |
| Fertilizer | Every other month, except when the plant is dormant in winter | NC State |
Overwatering is the main risk. NC State warns that "Root rot and blackening of the leaf margins can occur with overwatering," and Clemson ties root rot to overwatering or poorly draining soil. See the root rot guide and the main pothos care guide.
Propagation
Clemson says pothos stem cuttings "can be easily rooted when placed in soil or water," and that "they should have at least one node to root properly." NC State lists stem cuttings as the recommended method for E. aureum and notes that "Vines easily root in water." Both are species-level statements. For step-by-step instructions, see how to propagate pothos.
Is Snow Queen pothos toxic to cats and dogs?
The ASPCA's Golden Pothos and Devils Ivy entries both cover Epipremnum aureum, the species Clemson and NC State list Snow Queen under. Both list it as toxic to dogs and cats (the Devils Ivy entry adds horses), with insoluble calcium oxalates as the toxic principle. The Golden Pothos entry lists these clinical signs: "Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing." The entries name the species, not individual cultivars.
If a pet eats any part of the plant, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. For more detail, see are pothos toxic to cats?
Frequently asked
Sources: Clemson HGIC: How to Grow Pothos Indoors, NC State Extension: Epipremnum aureum, NC State Extension: Epipremnum pinnatum, Kew POWO: Epipremnum aureum, Missouri Botanical Garden: Epipremnum aureum, U.S. Plant Patent PP19,965 ('NJOY'), ASPCA: Golden Pothos, ASPCA: Devils Ivy, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center