Chinese evergreen is the common name for Aglaonema, an arum-family genus from the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia and New Guinea. NC State Extension counts 26 species and many cultivars, and calls it one of the easiest houseplants for a home or office. It grows as an erect, bushy plant with lance-shaped leaves patterned in white, silver, pink or red.

UF/IFAS Extension notes that early cultivars were mostly wild variants of A. crispum, A. commutatum and A. modestum. Once breeders learned to control flowering and pollination, many hybrids followed. Today the choice comes down to leaf colour, plant size and how much light you can offer.

18 Chinese evergreen varieties at a glance

Descriptions are from NC State Extension profiles and UF/IFAS cultivar releases. “Genus range” means the diffuse sun or good indirect light NC State gives for the genus.

VarietyLeafSizeLightNotes
A. commutatum (Philippine evergreen)Elliptic, dark green, lance-shapedLeaves 10–30 cm (4–12 in) long, 5–10 cm (2–4 in) wideGenus rangeParent of many older cultivars
A. commutatum ‘Maria’Dark green with silver stripesStandardShade tolerantGood for a dim corner
A. commutatum ‘Treubii’Narrow, grey-green, spotted pale or yellowish greenStandardGenus rangeNarrow-leaved form
A. commutatum ‘Pseudobracteatum’Spattered grey-green, veins highlighted whiteStandardGenus range—
A. commutatum ‘White Rajah’Heavily marked with white throughoutStandardGenus rangeVery pale leaf
A. modestum (Chinese evergreen)Large, often variegatedLeaves up to 25 cm (10 in)Genus rangeThe species the ASPCA lists
A. nitidum ‘Curtisii’Striped silver along the main veinsStandardGenus rangeA parent of ‘Stripes’
A. pictum ‘Tricolor’Camouflage pattern of green, silver and light greenSpecies is compact, 30–60 cm (1–2 ft)Genus range—
‘Silver Bay’Green with silver tinges in the centreStandardBred for interiorsUF/IFAS hybrid released in 1992
’Diamond Bay’Grey-green centre over half the leaf, green marginsLeaves 28–30 cm (11–12 in) longBred for interiorsMutation of ‘Silver Bay'
'Moonlight Bay’Uneven grey-green centre, green marginsLeaves about 28–30 cm longBred for interiorsMutation of ‘Silver Bay'
'Emerald Bay’Grey-green centre, green margins, no yellowLeaves 30–33 cm (12–13 in) longLow light, low humidityMutation of ‘Golden Bay'
'Leprechaun’Grey-green centre like ‘Silver Bay’Dwarf; leaves about 20 cm (8 in)Held quality at 100 foot-candlesRounded, highly branched
’Stripes’Silvery white bands along the side veinsLeaves up to 35 cm (14 in)Bred for interiorsCross of ‘Manila’ and ‘Curtisii'
'Silver Queen’Dark green with silver-grey variegationStandardGenus rangeClassic silver type
’Siam Aurora’Green with crimson veins and edgesStandardGenus rangeRed type
’Red Anjamani’Bright red with thin green edgesStandardGenus rangeRed type
’Suzy’Green with pink splashesStandardLow-light tolerantPink type

NC State gives the genus a height of about 30–50 cm (1 ft–1 ft 8 in) indoors. Leaves typically reach 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long. “Standard” in the table means a cultivar with no separate size note.

Philippine evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum)

Most of the older silver and grey cultivars belong here. NC State lists eight forms of A. commutatum, with leaves up to 30 cm (12 in) long.

  • ‘Maria’ is the one to choose for a dim room. NC State describes it as shade tolerant, with dark green leaves striped silver.
  • ‘Treubii’ has narrower, grey-green leaves with pale spots.
  • ‘Pseudobracteatum’ has grey-green spattering with white-highlighted veins, and ‘White Rajah’ is marked with white throughout.
  • ‘Crete’ is the red-edged member of the group, with burgundy splashes and borders and pale pink stems.

Chinese and Burmese evergreen (A. modestum and A. nitidum)

NC State gives the common name Chinese evergreen to A. modestum itself. It notes its leaves reach about 25 cm (10 in) and are often variegated. ‘BJ Freeman’ has light green leaves with grey-green flecks along the midrib and margins.

A. nitidum, the Burmese evergreen, has deeply channelled leaf stalks and narrow leaves. Its cultivars are bold silver types:

  • ‘Curtisii’: silver stripes along the main veins.
  • ‘Ernesto’s Favourite’: a broad silver stripe on the midrib.
  • ‘Silver King’: mostly silver with only splashes of green.

The UF/IFAS Bay series and other Florida releases

The University of Florida’s foliage breeding programme at Apopka has released a run of cultivars bred to perform indoors. UF/IFAS describes ‘Silver Bay’, released in 1992, as still very popular for its foliage, growth habit and performance in interior conditions.

Several later cultivars began as mutations found among tissue-cultured stock:

  • ‘Diamond Bay’ lacks one of the variegation patterns of ‘Silver Bay’. Its grey-green centre covers slightly more than half of each leaf.
  • ‘Moonlight Bay’ has a more uneven grey patch. In places it is narrow; in others it covers half the leaf.
  • ‘Emerald Bay’ came from ‘Golden Bay’ and lacks its yellow background. UF/IFAS reports it performs well under low interior light and low humidity, without acclimatizing first.
  • ‘Leprechaun’ is a dwarf ‘Silver Bay’. It branches heavily from the base and grows into a rounded plant. In UF trials, plants kept excellent quality after three months at 100 foot-candles.

‘Stripes’ is a cross of ‘Manila’ with A. nitidum ‘Curtisii’. UF/IFAS describes silvery white bands along the side veins, and leaves up to 35 cm (14 in) long. In its interior test the green darkened, which sharpened the contrast.

Choosing: for a desk or shelf, pick ‘Leprechaun’. For a low-light office, ‘Emerald Bay’ or ‘Silver Bay’.

Red and pink Chinese evergreens

NC State lists more than a dozen named cultivars with pink or red in the leaf. Common ones include:

  • ‘Siam Aurora’: green leaves with crimson veins and edges.
  • ‘Red Anjamani’: bright red leaves with thin green edges.
  • ‘Lady Valentine’: showy pink and green leaves.
  • ‘Lucky Red’: new leaves open pale pink, turn hot pink, then darken to red.
  • ‘Pink Dalmation’: large leaves with scattered pink spots.
  • ‘Suzy’: green with pink splashes; NC State notes it tolerates low light.
  • ‘Red Zircon’: pinkish red with green edges, which NC State calls rare.

NC State gives no separate light requirements for most of these, so grow them in the genus range below. Check the label for the cultivar name when you buy.

Care that applies to every Chinese evergreen

From NC State Extension:

  • Light: diffuse sun or good indirect light. The genus is rated as an excellent low-light plant.
  • Water: keep the mix moist from spring to autumn and water less in winter. Overwatering causes root rot, so let the surface dry before watering again. Avoid cold water.
  • Temperature: it does not tolerate cold. It prefers daytime temperatures of 21–27 °C (70–80 °F).
  • Humidity: it prefers high humidity but tolerates drier air. Leaves can brown in very dry air or a draughty spot.
  • Pests: check for aphids, mealybugs, spider mites and scale.
  • Flowers: remove flowers and berries to put the plant’s energy into leaves.
  • Age: stems become leggy as the plant ages. NC State lists division and stem cuttings for propagation.

For watering and repotting detail, see our Chinese evergreen care guide. If you are choosing between this plant and a corn plant, read dracaena vs Chinese evergreen. For other options in poor light, see our plants for dark rooms.

Pets

The ASPCA lists Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum) as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Insoluble calcium oxalates cause oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. NC State lists calcium oxalate crystals throughout the genus and notes that the sap can cause dermatitis. Wear gloves when you take cuttings. For alternatives, see our pet-safe plants guide.

References