Champs Elysees Pothos: Care and Identification
The Champs Elysees pothos is a bright neon-green pothos with puckered, ridged leaves, almost like quilted fabric. It is a cultivar of Epipremnum aureum, so it needs the same easy care as any pothos: bright indirect light, soil that dries out about halfway between waterings, and a pot with drainage. The fastest way to identify it is to flip a leaf over and look for raised crests on the underside.
Below you will find how to tell it apart from look-alikes, a full care guide, and fixes for the problems you are most likely to see.
What Is a Champs Elysees Pothos?
Champs Elysees (often written Champs-Élysées) is a newer pothos variety. According to Costa Farms, it was found in Japan by the Terunoworld nursery and is a relatively new introduction in the United States. You may see it sold as “Teruno Champs Elysees” or as a Japanese pothos. Costa Farms also lists it as the parent of the Shangri-La pothos.
Like other pothos, it is a vining plant. Left unpruned, it can climb more than 10 feet indoors, and its leaves get bigger as it climbs a pole. Trimmed regularly, it stays a compact trailing plant for a shelf or hanging basket.
How to Identify a Champs Elysees Pothos
The Champs Elysees pothos is easy to confuse with Neon pothos at first glance, because both are bright chartreuse. Texture is what gives it away.
- Color: Neon green to lime, turning more golden-yellow in brighter light. No white or cream variegation.
- Texture: Puckered, pleated leaves with a wavy, waffle-like surface rather than a flat one.
- Underside: Raised crests along the back of the leaf, which some growers compare to gills. This is the clearest ID feature.
- Shape: The classic pothos heart shape, often slightly cupped because of the ridges.
| Plant | Leaf color | Leaf texture | Quick tell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champs Elysees pothos | Neon green to golden | Puckered, crests underneath | Feel the ridges on the back |
| Neon pothos | Neon chartreuse | Smooth and flat | Flat, glossy, no ridges |
| Golden pothos | Green with yellow streaks | Smooth | Two-tone marbling |
| Jade pothos | Solid deep green | Smooth | Dark green, no variegation |
| Philodendron Lemon Lime | Neon green | Thin, soft and smooth | Thinner, softer leaves on slimmer stems |
If your plant is bright green with flat, smooth leaves, it is most likely Neon pothos. If the leaves feel bumpy and ridged on the back, you have a Champs Elysees.
Champs Elysees Pothos Care
| Need | What it likes |
|---|---|
| Light | Bright indirect light, within about 3 feet of an east or west window |
| Water | When the top half of the soil is dry |
| Soil | Light, well-draining indoor potting mix |
| Humidity | Normal home humidity is fine, extra humidity helps leaf size |
| Fertilizer | Houseplant fertilizer in spring and summer, at label rate |
| Pet safety | Toxic to cats and dogs |
Light
Give it medium to bright indirect light. Costa Farms suggests placing it within about 3 feet of an east- or west-facing window. It will survive in lower light, but growth slows and the leaves tend to lose their bright golden glow and turn a duller green. Keep it out of hot afternoon sun through a south or west window in summer, which can scorch the leaves.
Water
Water when roughly the top half of the potting mix is dry. Push a finger into the soil to check, then water thoroughly until it drains out the bottom and empty the saucer. Pothos often droop slightly when thirsty and perk up within hours after watering. Soggy soil is the bigger danger, because it leads to root rot. If you think that has already happened, follow my guide to fixing root rot in indoor plants.
Soil and pot
Use a regular indoor potting mix and add a handful of perlite or orchid bark if it feels heavy. Always use a pot with a drainage hole. Repot only when roots start circling the bottom or poking out of the drainage holes, usually every year or two in spring.
Humidity and temperature
Average indoor humidity is fine. Extra humidity can help it push out larger leaves, so a grouping of plants or a small humidifier is a bonus, not a requirement. Keep it in normal room temperatures and away from cold drafts and heating vents.
Fertilizer
Feed with a general houseplant fertilizer during spring and summer, following the package directions. Skip feeding in fall and winter when growth slows. Too much fertilizer can burn the roots and brown the leaf edges.
How to Propagate Champs Elysees Pothos
It roots just like any pothos. You need a cutting with at least one node, the small brown bump where the leaf meets the stem.
- Cut a 4 to 6 inch piece of vine just below a node, with 2 or 3 leaves.
- Remove the leaf closest to the cut end so the node is bare.
- Place the node in a jar of water, keeping the leaves above the waterline.
- Put the jar in bright indirect light and change the water every week.
- Pot it up in soil once the roots are a couple of inches long.
For more detail and other methods, see my full guide on how to propagate pothos.
Is the Champs Elysees Pothos Toxic to Pets?
Yes. Champs Elysees is a form of Epipremnum aureum, which the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs. The plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. NC State Extension lists symptoms such as mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Keep it on a high shelf or in a hanging basket out of reach. For cat owners, I cover this in more depth in are pothos toxic to cats.
Common Problems and Fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves fading to dull green | Not enough light | Move closer to a bright window |
| Yellow lower leaves, wet soil | Overwatering | Let the top half dry before watering again |
| Brown crispy edges | Underwatering or dry air | Water more consistently, add humidity |
| Long bare vines | Low light, no pruning | Trim vines and root the cuttings back into the pot |
| Scorched pale patches | Direct hot sun | Move out of direct afternoon sun |
You can find more easy plants and care guides in the houseplant care section.
Champs Elysees Pothos FAQ
Is the Champs Elysees pothos rare?
It used to be hard to find, but larger growers such as Costa Farms now sell it in the US, so it shows up more often in garden centers and online plant shops.
What is the difference between Champs Elysees and Neon pothos?
Both are bright neon green. Neon pothos has smooth, flat leaves, while Champs Elysees has puckered leaves with raised crests on the underside.
Does Champs Elysees pothos need a moss pole?
No, it trails happily from a basket or shelf. A moss pole is optional, but climbing plants often grow larger leaves.
Why is my Champs Elysees pothos losing its bright color?
Usually because of low light. Move it to bright indirect light and new leaves should come in brighter.
How fast does Champs Elysees pothos grow?
In good light and warm conditions it grows steadily through spring and summer and slows down in winter, like other pothos.
