Quick Guide to Growing Chinese Evergreen
- USDA Hardiness Zones: Indoors only; tropical foliage
- Best Light: Low to moderate, indirect light
- Soil Type: Commercial soilless mix with extra humus
- Watering: Keep soil moist; allow top 1–2 inches to dry before watering again
- Temperature: Best at 68–80 °F; avoid below 55 °F
- Humidity: Tolerates low humidity; prefers moderate
- Special Notes: Toxic to cats and dogs
Aglaonema ‘Cherry’ has pink mature leaves.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2024 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Chinese Evergreen Plant Overview
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema species) is a tropical foliage plant that is one of the most durable houseplants. It tolerates poor light, dry air, air-conditioning, and drought. Chinese evergreens originate from the tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia and New Guinea.
Chinese Evergreen Height/Spread
Plants grow from one to three feet tall and wide.
Ornamental Features of Chinese Evergreen
Chinese evergreen is grown for its highly ornamental foliage, which can be green to dark green, or variegated with silver or gray, depending on the species and cultivar.
How to Grow Chinese Evergreen Indoors
Best Light Conditions
Chinese evergreens are remarkably tolerant plants. The solid green cultivars will grow in low light. Variegated types (displaying different colors) with leaves of various colors will need low to moderate light. Low light is mainly found in indirect or heavily shaded indoor areas, while moderate light is bright and indirect. They do not like direct sunlight on their foliage.
Temperature & Humidity
- Prefer 68 to 80 °F temperature range but tolerates as low as 55 °F
- Most grow well in an average house with low to moderate humidity.
Soil & Planting
- Plant in a commercially available, standard soilless mix with extra humus.
- Ensure containers have drainage holes.
Watering Chinese Evergreen
- Keep the soil constantly moist but not too wet.
- It is essential to water the top 1-2 inches of dry soil.
- Too much or too little water can damage the roots and hinder growth.
- Avoid using water that is too hot or too cold to water Chinese evergreens.
- Room temperature water is recommended for watering.
- Test by sticking two fingers in the top 2 inches of soil:
- Dry: Time to water
- Cold & damp: Do not water
For more information on proper watering practices, see HGIC 1459, Indoor Plants-Watering.
Propagation Methods
- Division
- Stem cuttings
- Tip cuttings
- Air-layering
- Seed
NOTE: If the bottom leaves are shed and the lower stem becomes bare, the top can be removed and rooted.
Chinese Evergreen Problems
Common Pests
- Mealybugs
- Aphids
- Scales
- Mites
For more information on controlling insects and related pests, see HGIC 2252, Common Houseplant Insects & Related Pests.
Diseases
In the home, plant diseases are rarely a problem.
- Root rot usually results from a soil mix that does not drain quickly or from overwatering.
- Powdery mildew can be an issue when there is high humidity.
Other Problems
- Excessive fertilizer can cause leaf edge burn.
- Chinese evergreens are sensitive to chilling temperatures below 50 °F.
Chinese Evergreen Toxicity
- Leaves can be toxic to pets, particularly dogs and cats.
- Keep household pets away from Aglaonema species.
For more information on toxic plants for pets, refer to the ASPCA’s Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List.
Aglaonema Species & Cultivars
Ribbon Aglaonema (A. commutatum)
Ribbon Aglaonema grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 18 to 24 inches wide, featuring dark green leaves with gray markings along the veins.
- ‘Cherry’ has lush green leaves that turn pink when they mature.
- ‘Crete’ has green leaves with flecks and borders of burgundy red with pale pink stems.
- ‘Frasher’ has milky green leaves with white petioles (leaf stalks) and cream color mottling on the leaves.
- ‘Maria’ has dark green leaves with silver stripes.
- ‘Pseudobracteatum’ has leaves spotted with gray and green, and the leaf veins have white highlights.
- ‘Treubii’ has narrow grayish-green leaves with pale green or yellow-green spots.
Pewter Plant (A. crispum)
Pewter plant is a very robust plant that grows 3 to 4 feet tall with silvery markings on green leaves. It tolerates very low light.
Chinese Evergreen (A. modestum)
Chinese evergreen has shiny, dark green, waxy, and lance-shaped leaves with wavy margins on short stems. It tolerates very low light and low humidity.
- ‘BJ Freeman’ has grayish and green flecks along the leaf midribs and margins. The light green leaves have grayish-green flecks.
Burmese Evergreen (A. nitidum)
Burmese evergreen has dark green, linear-oblong leaves with leathery leaf blades. The dark green leaves have white splashes, and they can grow up to 3 feet. Burmese evergreen has colorful leaves with deeply channeled petioles, narrowly oblong to oblanceolate-elliptic (leaf gets wider towards the tip and narrows down towards the base).
- ‘Curtissii’ has striped silver leaves along the primary veins.
- ‘Ernesto’s Favorite’ has green leaves with broad silver stripes on the midrib.
Camouflage Plant (A. pictum)
Camouflage plant has dark green and variegated leaves that grow up to 2 feet tall and 18 inches wide. It prefers partial or dappled sunlight.
- ‘Tricolor’ has a camouflage pattern of green, silver, and light green foliage.
Hybrid Aglaonema Cultivars
Like many Aglaonema species, the Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum) has low maintenance requirements.
Barbara H. Smith, ©2024 HGIC, Clemson Extension
A cultivar is a plant selected for a desirable plant trait and is usually man-made. Hybrid cultivars differ slightly, as they result from crossing two different plant species or varieties (different genetic makeup, varieties, etc.) The parent of the hybrid cultivars listed below includes A. crispum, A. commutatum, A. modestum, and A. nitidum. Some of the hybrid cultivars listed below, such as ‘x’, do not have records of their parents.
- ‘Butterfly’ has bright green leaves with yellow specks, pink stripes in the center and pink stems.
- ‘Chocolate’ has dark green leaves with burgundy red veins.
- ‘Cutlass’ has long, streaked leaves of creamy greenish-white with dark green centers and edges.
- ‘Red Anjamani’ has lance-shaped leaves with thin green edges that are bright red.
- ‘Red Edge’ has mostly green leaves with red outlines.
- ‘Red Emerald’ has emerald, green leaves speckled with amber spots and a red center.
- ‘Red Gold’ has green leaves with red margins. The stems and leaf veins are tinged red.
- ‘Red Ruby’ has green leaves with some splashes of pink.
- ‘Red Zircon’ is a rare variety characterized by pinkish-red leaves and green edges.
- ‘Siam Aurora’ has deep crimson in the veins and edges of the green leaves.
- ‘Silver Bay’ has silver-centered leaves and grows 30 inches tall.
- ‘Silver King’ is heavily silvered with only splashes of green and grows 24 inches tall.
- ‘Spring Snow’ has cream colored leaves speckled with a green pattern.
- ‘Stripes’ has alternating foliage with silver and green bands.
- ‘Suzy’ has low light tolerance, characterized by green leaves and splashes of pink coloring.
- ‘Tigress’ has green leaves with white and green striations.
- ‘White Rajah’ has bold white markings.
- ‘Wishes’ has variegated pink and green foliage.
References
- UFL AskIFAS Aglaonema modestum: Chinese Evergreen
- The National Gardening Association Database: Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema pictum ‘Tricolor’)
- UFL IFAS Extension Gardening Solutions: Aglaonema
- A Singapore Government Agency, National Parks Flora & Fauna Web: Aglaonema nitidum
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Aglaonema
Originally published 03/99
