Scindapsus: What the Heck Are All These Cultivars About?

Welcome! To my little blog on the chaos and anarchy that is Scindapsus nomenclature. Grab a snack, a cozy blanket, some tea, or perhaps a bucket of wine, and let's start comparing some Scindapsus. 

Here we go, in no particular order:

Scindapsus Salamount vs. Peasun
These are, in my opinion, two of the most confusing because they look so much alike. And probably for good reason... They're not actually different plants. (At least not if we're talking about what is conventionally referred to as a "Scindapsus Peason" because, and I don't know how hard you want me to nerd out here, but there's an extra layer of confusion with "Peasun" vs "Geulis Peasun" and most the plants you see called "Peasun" now are the latter, not the former.)

(Anyway.) 

Both Peasun and Salamount are sports of Scindapsus Pictus (specifically Exotica) from the Mount Salak / Bogor region of West Java, Indonesia. Salamount starts popping up around 2021, and I believe it to be the original cultivar. "Peason" doesn't appear until later in 2022 but is nearly identical to the Salamount in every way that matters. I think probably two different growers got sports of Exotica and marketed them with different names either because they #1: Didn't realize the variegate already existed; or, #2: Were attempting to artificially drive up prices with a new name. (I know, I know, like basically unheard of in the plant community.)

I don't believe there's much price difference between the two now (at least according to my very brief googling done at the time of this writing - January, 2025) So it's probably neither here nor there, but I have purchased in and grown out both plants and they. are. the. same. plant. 

(I know somebody is going to come at me with "...but Salamount is characterized by more green than white, whereas Peasun is more white than green!" But I would counter with that the green to white ratio is largely determined by genetics and also the amount of light the plant is given. Feel free and try and prove me wrong below, but you can't, because I'm not.)

VERDICT - THE SAME PLANT

Bonus: Scindapsus Halimoon
This is the most recent of the three, first appearing in 2023 (also in Indonesia) and I'm leaving this guy separate for now because I'm not... 100% sure on him. I don't personally have a Halimoon, nor have I ever had, so I can't speak to any differences first-hand. I will say that from photos it certainly looks similar to Salamount / Peasun. Some people are claiming it's an aurea (yellow) sport vs. an albo (white) sport, others have mentioned that it's a sport of a Scindapsus Pictus Silver Cloud as opposed to a Pictus Exotica. 

If you're interested there's some info here @ aroidcultivars.org

They state they received one in March, 2023 as NoID and that it "exhibits a highly distinct and noteworthy bright creamy yellow with green spotted variegation." (Though, I would argue the same could also be said of the Salamount or Peasun.) There's really no mention of any attempts to confirm a uniqueness comparted to other similar sports, so ehhhhh?

(Also worth noting that none of these, Salamount, Peasun or Halimooon, are considered a recognized cultivar.)

VERDICT - JURY'S STILL OUT

Scindapsus Jade Satin Marble vs. Cream Blue
Similar in appearance to the Salamount / Peasun is the Jade Satin Variegated (sometimes called "Jade Satin Marble" or "Cream Blue.") However, Jade Satin Variegated is a Scindapsus Jade Satin sport, unlike the Salamount / Peasun which is a Pictus sport. The patterning is extremely similar but the leaf shape is different, smaller, and the Jade Satin, like the mother, is softer. Satiny (hence the name.)

So that's them.

VERDICT - JADE SATIN VARIEGATED, JADE SATIN MARBLE AND CREAM BLUE ARE THE SAME PLANT.

JADE SATIN ET. AL. AND SALAMOUNT / PEASUN / HALIMOON? ARE NOT THE SAME PLANT

Scindapsus Mayari vs. Mariposa
On now to Mayari (accepted cultivar) vs. Mariposa - Also extremely similar looking, patterning is very similar, dark greens with sectoral white patches. Mayari is the first on the scene in 2019, another Scindapsus Pictus sport. Mariposa (Fun fact: Mariposa is a Filipino term for a big moth or butterfly) is much newer on the scene (2023) and is a sport of a sport, Scindapsus Silver Lady. It's greens are a bit more "bluey" or "silvery" like the mother plant and the leaves size up much larger.

It can be difficult to tell them apart when they are small so this is another one you want to be sure you're getting from a reputable supplier.

VERDICT - NOT THE SAME PLANT

Scindapsus Hologram vs. Hologram Mint vs Mint sp.
Lastly, Hologram is another Scindapsus Exotica sport, but he's a super fun one. His variegation is "polaroid" so it comes in very light, and with enough light, (light with enough light? Lol, ok, Jenna. 10/10 writing, they'll be calling about my Pulitzer any day now) he can stay that way for quite a while, slowly fading down to darker green over time. What I really like about these is the variation in his variegation (it's an alliteration bonanza over here right now.) 

These are both props from the same mother. One you can see is more speckled, the other more feathery. Sometimes you get both on the same plant. They're kind of fascinating, actually. Another one not to be fooled by though, a lot of people are getting the more "feathery" props and calling them "Scindapsus Mint Sp." or "Hologram Mint" and charging double the price. No. Bad. *Squirts with spray bottle.*

One more time all together now, 👏🏻 they're 👏🏻 the 👏🏻 same 👏🏻 plant 👏🏻

VERDICT - THE SAME PLANT

Scindapsus Treubii Albo vs. Moonlight Variegated (or Moonlight Albo)
Did I say "lastly?" You thought I was done with you? Just kidding! I've got more - I also want to touch on these guys for a moment, since they are, in my experience, one of the Scindapsus types you're most likely to get scammed on. To understand these plants, we need to understand the base plants. Specifically, that all Scindapsus "Moonlight" are a type of Treubii, but not all Treubii are Scindapsus "Moonlight." 

Scindapsus Treubii "Moonlight" are a Scindapsus Treubii sport featuring dark green leaves with a silvery sheen. They're a popular, fairly common, houseplant that I am particularly adept at accidentally murdering. 

(Photo credit: https://www.foliage-factory.com/scindapsus-treubii-moonlight)

That silvery sheen being what separates them from a standard, non-sport, Scindapsus Treubii. This distinction is important to note. 

A Scindapsus Treubii Albo is an albo sport of Scindapsus Treubii. NOT a sport of Scindapsus Treubii Moonlight. The problem is that Scindapsus Moonlight Albo is also a thing. A very rare, very expensive thing, and growers absolutely everywhere are trying to pass off Scindapsus Treubii Albo as Scindapsus Moonlight Variegated. 

How widespread is this problem, you ask?

These are the top results on Google when you search for "Scindapsus Moonlight Albo."

Not a single one of them is a Moonlight Albo.

All of the plants pictured are Scindapsus Treubii Albo. I would also like to add, it's possible these sellers don't know that they've incorrectly labelled these plants. It's likely they bought them in, particularly if they were imported, as Moonlight Albo. I have been scammed on these myself, so it absolutely happens. I'm not attempting to speak to their motivations. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, it could certainly be an innocent mistake. 

The good news most of them are priced appropriately for a Treubii Albo and not a Moonlight. I would expect an actual Moonlight Albo to run $500 (ish) for a small plant. (Again, at least as of this posting. Plant prices always being subject to change.) If you're getting it for under $100, it is not a Moonlight. If it doesn't have the silvery sheen, it is not a Moonlight. 

Here's a link to an actual Treubii Moonlight Albo for reference ---> CLICK ME!

Note that silvery sheen I won't stop going on about?

At the end of the day, Treubii Albo is a beautiful plant in it's own right, but it's good to understand what you're getting. Be particularly careful if importing these. I've yet to see a single Indonesian reseller have an actual Moonlight Albo, despite what they insist on calling them. I know Rare Plant Fairy was selling actual Moonlight Albo once upon a time (I know this because I purchased and killed one from her and it was definitely the real deal R.I.P.) So I'd start by checking there if attempting to find one domestically. 

VERDICT - NOT THE SAME PLANT

Bonus: Scindapsus Rubicon
Rubicon is also a Treubii sport, but it's the aurea (yellow) version.

Alright. Wow. That was a lot. But I think that's it for now?

I will be going back through in the next couple days to add some more photos, just in a bit of a rush at the moment. I've got a whole box of probably-dead-by-now Begonia to unpack downstairs. Wish me luck!

Shout out to my very dear plant-friend, Tess, for inspiring this whole post. She also sells lovely plants, and various things, and she has snails in her watering can, I mean, what more need I say? She's awesome. You can (and should) check out her Etsy shop ---> HERE.

As always, if you have any questions, or want to fight about whether or not Scindapsus Salamount and Peasun are the same plant (they are) please feel free to comment below. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!