Family: Araceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Syngonium auritum, commonly known as five-fingers, is a climbing or creeping evergreen aroid native to the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean. It is valued as an ornamental plant for its attractive, glossy foliage, which becomes deeply lobed and finger-like as the plant matures. Adaptable to a range of light conditions, five-fingers is commonly grown as a houseplant, in tropical gardens, or as a groundcover and climbing accent on trellises, trees, and walls. Its vigorous growth and distinctive leaves make it popular in landscaping throughout warm, humid regions.

Risks & Threats
Five-fingers is considered a low-risk species, with little evidence of causing significant ecological harm where it is cultivated. While it can spread vegetatively and may occasionally persist outside cultivation in suitable tropical environments, it has not demonstrated the aggressive invasive behavior associated with higher-risk ornamental vines. Gardeners should still monitor its growth and dispose of plant material responsibly to prevent unwanted spread into nearby natural areas. With proper management, Syngonium auritum can be enjoyed as an attractive ornamental plant with minimal risk to Hawaii’s ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Toxic to animals and humans
  
• Host to many pests and pathogens
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Tolerates wide soil range
  
• Climbing/smothering growth habit
  
• Congeneric (S. podophyllum) is invasive
  
• Produces viable seeds (50–100+ per fruit)
  
• Seeds survive gut passage (mammal dispersal)
  
• Intentionally dispersed by people as ornamental
  
• Possibly bird-dispersed

Low Risk Traits:

• No evidence of naturalization
  
• Not a garden, agricultural, or environmental weed
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• No fire hazard (wet forest habitat)
  
• Self-incompatible
  
• Requires specialist beetle pollinators
  
• No external seed attachment
  
• Not wind- or water-dispersed
  
• Not prolific seed producer