Golden Pothos vs. Global Green Pothos

Pothos are absolutely delightful plants to keep indoors. They’re virtually impossible to kill, tolerant of different ranges of sun exposure, and grow like weeds. With all of these factors in mind, pothos plants are extremely popular in the houseplant trade.

Because pothos are so popular among plant parents, it’s only natural that different varieties and colorations of the pothos species would also become popular. The global green pothos is one shining example of new varieties that can really catch the eye. But what makes the global green pothos different from the standard golden pothos?

Let’s break down the key differences between these two plants, as well as some fun facts about each and their unique care requirements to grow at home.

Comparing Golden Pothos vs. Global Green Pothos

The Key Differences Between Golden Pothos and Global Green Pothos

The differences between the golden pothos and the global green pothos are quite straightforward. The golden pothos is simply the “base” or common variety of Epipremnum aureum. It does not have any variegation and is the most common type of pothos found growing naturally in its native habitat.

The global green pothos, on the other hand, is a man-made variety or cultivar of the golden pothos. A relatively new variety, the global green pothos is different in that it is variegated, or has colorful patterns on its leaves. The golden pothos is not variegated and simply has deep or golden-green leaves. The global green pothos has subtle variegation in hues of deep green and lime green against dark green. Its patterns can take the form of splotches or brushstrokes.

Another difference between these two plants is their care. While their care requirements are almost identical, the global green pothos is less tolerant of low sunlight. It will survive just fine, just as the golden pothos will, but it will lose its colorful, subtle variegation without adequate sunlight.

Other than these two key differences, the golden pothos and global green pothos have almost no differences. They are the same species of plant; just different varieties. And they grow very well together!

Golden Pothos vs. Global Green Pothos: Classification

The golden pothos is classified as Epipremnum aureum. It is the standard type of pothos found in the global plant trade. The global green pothos is classified as Epipremnum aureum ‘Global Green’. It is a new cultivar of the standard golden pothos. It is variegated, meaning it has color patterns on its leaves that are different from the standard solid coloring of the golden pothos. As members of the arum family, also known as Araceae, they are related to many other tropical flowering plants, such as the monstera, the calla lily, the cuckoopint, and many others.

Golden Pothos vs. Global Green Pothos: Description

With glossy, heart-shaped leaves and a vining tendency ideal for baskets or hung on shelves, the golden pothos is a low-maintenance houseplant. The golden pothos is a plant that was once only found on the South Pacific’s subtropical French Polynesian islands. Golden pothos can grow to startlingly enormous sizes in the wild, with leaves reaching lengths of over a foot. Yet it usually stays much smaller when grown indoors as a houseplant. It is renowned for having leaves that are completely golden green with no variegation.

The global green pothos is a new variety of golden pothos that is beautifully vibrant and has lovely green-on-green variegation. The margins of the mid-green leaves are a deeper green color. On this cultivar, there can occasionally be tiny slivers or areas of cream or white. In contrast to more intensely variegated cultivars like the Manjula pothos, the global green pothos can prove to be a faster grower due to the abundance of chlorophyll in the leaves. Although the global green variety of pothos is new to North America, it is just as easy to care for as other pothos species. This variety doesn’t care too much about watering and is content in a variety of lighting situations.

Golden Pothos vs. Global Green Pothos: Uses

Both golden pothos plants and global green pothos plants are used primarily for decoration as houseplants. They are also both known for being excellent at air purification of indoor spaces, though you would need a whole lot of them to really reap the rewards. Still, both varieties are excellent houseplants that are very tolerant of neglect.

Golden Pothos vs. Global Green Pothos: Origin

The golden pothos is native to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. These French Polynesian plants have been naturalized in tropical regions around the world, from Australia to Hawaii.

The global green pothos has some fairly mysterious origins. It’s not abundantly clear who created this variegated variety. The popular Costa Farms has noted that it owns the patent to this new cultivar in the United States and has owned it since around 2021. Other than that, there isn’t much information available about where this stunning cultivar came from. How mysterious!

Golden Pothos vs. Global Green Pothos: How to Grow

As we mentioned earlier, the golden pothos and the global green pothos have the same care needs. The only difference is that the global green pothos should be kept in adequate sunshine rather than low light, as it will lose its colorful patterns without proper sun exposure.

Between waterings, pothos plants usually like when their soil totally dries out. The plant’s roots will break down and die if left in constantly moist soil. The plant may start to collapse or show black splotches on its foliage, which are both indications that the soil has been kept way too moist for way too long. When it requires water, the plant will let you know. It needs water as it begins to droop. The plant will lose some leaves if you wait until the leaves begin to shrink. A plant that has dry, brown edges has been left without water for too long.

Although they like a typical room temperature that ranges between 65 and 75 degrees F, pothos should be kept at temperatures that are continuously above 50 degrees F. Just as well, most pothos plants prefer and even thrive at high levels of humidity. Try keeping your pothos in an area with high humidity, such as your bathroom or in your kitchen. There is no need to buy a humidifier because the plant is quite resilient and can survive in areas with low humidity.

Pothos like both sun and shade, but you must keep an eye on it if there is too much of either. Pothos favors indirect, bright sunlight when planted inside as a houseplant. Lack of light can cause variegated plants, such as the global green pothos, to lose their brilliant leaf colorations and turn plain green. The variegation can sometimes be brought back by moving them to an area with better access to light.

Pothos plants will thrive in common potting soil that can stay somewhat wet but drains out water well. Your choice of soil can be dry or even rocky. It can survive in a variety of environments, including neutral and slightly acidic ones. Pothos plants don’t need a lot of plant food. However, because many brands of potting soil lack an abundance of minerals, you will likely need to feed the plant twice a month, with the exception of when it is dormant in the winter. Any well-balanced houseplant fertilizer will be fine.

Your pothos will eventually grow out of its current pot at some point in its life. No matter how generous you are when you water any type of plant, wilting or fallen leaves always indicate that the roots have likely filled up their container and there is no more space for them to develop. Lift the plant out of its container with care to examine whether this is the issue. It’s also possible to observe the roots emerging from the drainage holes to determine if your pothos is root bound. When the plant reaches this stage, you can repot it in a new container that is one or two times larger in diameter and depth. Use fresh potting soil when repotting. It’s really as simple as that!

Golden Pothos vs. Global Green Pothos: Protections and Conservation

Neither variety of pothos are considered at risk or currently endangered. That being said, golden pothos is considered invasive in many places around the world. In particular, the state of Florida has been struggling quite a bit since this species has been introduced to the state’s natural habitat. It is listed by the UF/IFAS as an invasive plant for the central region of Florida. It also has a “caution” label, meaning that it has a moderate risk for serious ecosystem damage in that region.

Golden Pothos vs. Global Green Pothos: Special Features

Both the golden pothos and global green pothos are somewhat poisonous houseplants. The species contains calcium oxalate, which is composed of small crystals and is a contact irritant throughout the body of the plant. Consuming any type of pothos might result in indigestion, intestinal pain, swelling, and mouth burning. Keep these beauties away from children and pests!

When it comes down to it, there’s a lot to love about pothos plants. They’re so easy to care for and come in a wide range of cultivars and colorations. If you’re looking for a pothos that can tolerate low light, we’d recommend picking up a golden pothos. If you’re looking for something with just a subtle amount of variegation, we’d recommend picking up a global green pothos. Just keep in mind that the latter is still considered new and rare in the plant trade, so finding one at your local nursery will be a bit difficult.

Want to learn more about the eye-catching pothos houseplant? Check out our in-depth guide to everything you need to know about pothos!

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