POT OF GOLD

5 surprising facts about golden pothos, NYC’s most popula plant

Golden pothos is the unofficial king of the city’s houseplants. The green-leafed varietal (known as epipremnum aureum in scientific parlance) is one of the most forgiving plants around, and a likely fit for busy, distracted New Yorkers and their sun-challenged homes.

Wholesaler Nick Valenti says it’s a top seller and estimates he sells 7,000 golden pothos a year across the five boroughs, making this green companion one of the city’s favorite — and most recognizable — green purchases. Here, five crucial facts to know.

1 Beware: It’s a doggie don’t. Keep this speckled vine away from your furry friends, because golden pothos is deemed toxic to dogs and cats (and humans) by the ASPCA. If ingested, it may cause vomiting, oral irritation and difficulty swallowing.

2 Nicknamed “devil’s ivy” in Great Britain, this nearly impossible-to-kill plant is actually in the lily family and can grow to 70 feet long indoors. But don’t count on any spring blooms. It usually only flowers in the wild.

3 The number of people tossing out unwanted golden pothos (how dare they!) has menaced tropical regions across the globe — including Hawaii and Florida, where it has been deemed an invasive species. In some US states, it’s illegal to grow golden pothos outdoors. This pesky plant has decimated at least two rain forests in Sri Lanka and caused severe ecological damage in Australia, the West Indies and across Asia, where it takes over forest floors aand ensnares tree trunks.

4 Golden4 pothos is actually native to remote islands in the SouthS Pacific.

5 NASA includes golden pothos on a list of recommended plants for air purification. While researching the best greenery to bring aboard space missions, golden pothos was found to effectively remove formaldehyde, xylene and benzene from the air.