Syngonium macrophyllum 'Ice Frost' ('Frosted Heart')

Origin of Syngonium macrophyllum 'Ice Frost' ('Frosted Heart')

Syngonium macrophyllum 'Ice Frost' ('Frosted Heart') is a named cultivated selection of Syngonium macrophyllum, although its breeder and introduction date are still unclear.

Syngonium macrophyllum occurs naturally from southern Mexico to Ecuador.

How to grow Syngonium macrophyllum 'Ice Frost' at home

Give 'Ice Frost' medium to bright indirect light and space for its broad leaves. Keep the room around 19–23 °C, away from cold draughts. Humidity around 50% or above is preferable, although it can adapt to average household humidity.

Let the mix become slightly drier around the roots before watering. The pot should feel lighter, with some moisture still present below the surface; check with a wooden stick when lifting is impractical. Soak the root ball evenly, let excess water drain and empty the outer pot.

Use a container with drainage holes and a mix that holds moisture while allowing air around the roots. Equal parts coir, vermiculite and perlite are one option. A dense root ball, often accompanied by unusually rapid drying, is a cue to repot into a slightly wider container.

Longer stems can be secured to a moss pole or allowed to trail from a hanging pot. During active growth, feed about monthly with diluted balanced fertiliser as directed. Stop feeding when leaf production pauses, and water less often as the mix dries more slowly.

Common problems with Syngonium macrophyllum 'Ice Frost'

• Weak, stretched growth: The plant may need more light. Place it nearer filtered daylight and watch for stronger new growth.
• Broad leaves droop in dry mix: Check moisture around the roots. If the mix around the roots is dry and the pot feels light, water thoroughly and let excess water drain.
• Drooping in persistently wet mix: Empty water from the cover pot, check that drainage holes are clear and pause watering.If wilting persists or the base softens, inspect the roots and stem base. Firm roots and a firm base can remain undisturbed as the mix dries slightly. If decay affects only some roots and the base is firm, cut mushy root sections back to healthy tissue with a disinfected blade, disinfecting between cuts and afterwards. Keep healthy roots, discard the decay and affected mix, then repot the remaining plant in fresh mix and a clean pot with drainage holes.If the base is soft or all roots have rotted, isolate the plant and have it checked promptly by a plant specialist.
• White wax at leaf bases: Look for mealybugs beneath the wax. Separate an infested plant, remove visible insects with a damp swab and clear away dead leaves. Inspect the leaf bases weekly and repeat removal while insects return. Only consider discarding the plant if both the infestation and the damage are extensive.

Syngonium macrophyllum ‘Ice Frost’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

About the name Syngonium macrophyllum

The name Syngonium comes from Greek words meaning “together” and “reproductive organs”, referring to the united ovaries in its flowers. The species name macrophyllum comes from Greek for “large-leaved”.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Syngonium in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 780.

Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler first described Syngonium macrophyllum in 1920 in Das Pflanzenreich, IV, 23E, page 128.