Want a Gorgeous, Easy-to-Grow Houseplant? Try Chinese Evergreen

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If you’re looking for a tough-as-nails houseplant with big leaves, aglaonema (pronounced ah-glay-oh-NEE-ma), also known as Chinese evergreen, is the right plant for you!

With long, strappy leaves and colorful good looks, these plants can tolerate all sorts of neglect. From inconsistent watering to low light levels, Chinese evergreens are about as forgiving a houseplant as you can find. They're ideal for both new and experienced plant parents.

Native to the Philippines, Chinese evergreens are available in many different cultivars, or cultivated varieties. Types include those with solid green, silvery green, or speckled pink and red foliage. They’re a great alternative to other colorful houseplants that are a little more demanding and finicky, such as croton, stromathe triostar, and alocasia.

In their native environment, Chinese evergreen plants are an herbaceous perennial that grow sheltered from direct sunlight on the jungle floor. This explains their preference for low to moderate light levels. In fact, bright, direct light will scald the leaves of this plant.

Why Trust Us?

I'm a garden writer with more than 15 years of experience growing houseplants, edibles, and landscape plantings. I also regularly trial new plant cultivars for performance and reliability, and test garden products to evaluate practicality and durability. My current houseplant collection consists of more than 60 plants, including a beautiful Aglaonema cultivar which regularly blooms in medium light conditions.

Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) Flower Basic Info:

Common Name: Aglaonema, Chinese evergreen
Botanical Name: Aglaonema spp.
Plant Family: Araceae
Type of Plant: Perennial, can grow outdoors in USDA zones 10 or warmer
Native Origin: Asia
Sun Exposure: Shade
Mature Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide
Toxic to pets: Yes

How to Grow Chinese Evergreen Plants

Aglaonemas are truly one of the few stand-out plants for low-light areas in your home. Give them a spot with low to medium light, and they will be happy.

Even a north-facing window will offer sufficient light, but keep yours out of direct sunlight, which will scorch the leaves.

If you’re sometimes forgetful about watering, you’re going to love these plants! Because they are native to monsoon forests, which receive months of rain followed by months of dry weather, they tolerate inconsistent watering. With that in mind, water only when the top few inches of soil feel dry to the touch.

In the USDA Hardiness zones 10 and warmer, you can grow Chinese evergreens outdoors in the shade. (Find your zone here.)

Do Chinese Evergreen Plants Need to Be Fertilized?

It’s fine to fertilize your Chinese evergreen occasionally, though it’s not entirely necessary. These plants make their own food through photosynthesis. But if you want to give yours a boost, feed with any general-purpose houseplant fertilizer at half-strength, according to the label instructions.

Because aglaonemas or Chinese evergreens are a slow grower, even in moderate light levels, they likely won’t need to be repotted for several years. Signs one needs to be repotted are that it’s drying out faster than it used to, or soil is pulling away from the sides of the pot.

Read more: How to Repot Plants

Types of Chinese Evergreen Plants

Many different varieties are now available, including:

• Silver Bay, which has silvery markings on foliage that reaches 30 inches tall and 36 inches wide

• Georgi’s Ruby has green leaves variegated with red and chartreuse

• Pink Siam has pale green leaves edged in pink

• Pink Dalmatian boasts dark green leaves with pink speckles

• Two Tone Moonstone has pink, cream and green leaves

Pests and Problems with Chinese Evergreen Plants

Diseases are rare on these sturdy houseplants.

Occasionally, Chinese evergreen may get pests such as spider mites, aphids or scales, which affect many other indoor plants. (Here's how to get rid of spider mites.)

If you do see pests, rinse them off with your kitchen sprayer or garden hose. If this isn’t effective, positively identify the pest before proceeding, then consider using an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. You may need repeated treatments.

How to Propagate Chinese Evergreen Plants

The easiest way to propagate Chinese evergreen is to take a stem cutting several inches long. Put it in a glass of water that receives indirect sunlight, and wait for roots to develop in several weeks. Plant the cutting in regular potting soil, and keep moist as it takes root, which should occur in about a month.

If it sends up other shoots within the pot, you also can separate these from the main plant and repot in another pot. Or if the plant gets gangly, simply cut off the leggy section and root it in water to make a new plant.

Does Chinese Evergreen Plant Bloom?

Occasionally, Chinese evergreen plants will bloom indoors, especially in moderate light levels. Their unique spoon-shaped flowers resemble those of a peace lily, with a spathe, or sheath, that surrounds the flowering spike, or spadix.

Is Chinese Evergreen Toxic to Pets?

Unfortunately, aglaonemas or Chinese evergreens are toxic to pets if ingested.

According to the ASPCA, they contain insoluble calcium oxalates, which can cause oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, drooling, and vomiting.

If you suspect your pet has taken a nibble—even if you’re not exactly sure—contact your vet ASAP. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

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