Origins
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), also called Devil’s Ivy, became the “gateway plant” for the #PlantParenthood movement. Native to Southeast Asia, its near-indestructible nature made it perfect for beginners.
The Beginner’s Best Friend (2015-2020)
Why Pothos dominated:
- Survives low light and neglect
- Propagates easily in water
- Fast-growing (vines can grow 12-18” per year)
- Cheap ($5-15 at big-box stores)
Instagram posts: Grew from 50K (2015) to 1.5M+ (2020).
Variety Collecting Trend (2017-2020)
What started as “just a Pothos” became a collecting obsession:
Common varieties:
- Golden Pothos (most common)
- Marble Queen (white variegation)
- Neon Pothos (lime green)
- Jade Pothos (solid green)
Rare/expensive varieties:
- Manjula Pothos ($30-60)
- Pearls and Jade ($20-40)
- Cebu Blue ($25-50)
- Global Green ($40-80, 2020 release)
Office Plant Legacy
Pothos was the quintessential 1980s-2000s office plant - thriving under fluorescent lights. The 2010s Instagram era rebranded it from “boring office plant” to “trendy jungle aesthetic.”
Trailing Plant Aesthetic
Pothos popularized the trailing/cascading plant trend - hanging from shelves, macramé hangers, or trained on moss poles.
Cultural Impact
Proved you didn’t need rare plants or a green thumb - just a $5 Pothos and patience. The anti-gatekeeping plant.
Sources
- Costa Farms production data (2015-2020)
- “The Humble Pothos” (Apartment Therapy, 2018)
- Instagram plant community surveys