Aglaonema

The Chinese evergreens: a small genus of tropical Asian aroids (members of the arum family, Araceae), grown for leaves that can be patterned with white, silver, pink or red. The plain green ones grow in low light; the variegated (patterned or two-toned) and colored ones need a little more. This guide covers the genus; standout species and cultivars (named garden varieties) get their own cards.

Care at a glance

Origin & history

Where they come from. Aglaonema is a genus of about 26 aroids native to tropical and subtropical Asia, from northeast India and southern China through Southeast Asia to New Guinea (Plants of the World Online, n.d.). In the wild they grow in humid, heavily shaded tropical forest (Chen et al., 2001). They grow upright and bushy, though older plants get leggy as the stem lengthens (North Carolina State Extension, n.d.).

Early cultivars were mostly variants of three wild species, A. crispum, A. commutatum and A. modestum, and breeders have since released many more (Henny et al., 2007). Aglaonemas all need much the same basic care, but cultivars differ in how much light they want and how much cold they take (Chen et al., 2001; Chen et al., 2003). The cards and the note below cover the main differences.

They come from the warm tropics and have little tolerance for cold (North Carolina State Extension, n.d.). In our view, that's the main thing to watch indoors.

Care in depth

Light. Plain green forms grow in low light; variegated and colored types need low to moderate light (moderate here means bright and indirect), and none of them like direct sun (Clemson Cooperative Extension, 2025). Cultivars vary: the University of Florida (UF/IFAS) lists 'B. J. Freeman' as needing more light and 'Silver Bay' as preferring less (Chen et al., 2003). More light is not always better for color, though: in commercial greenhouses most cultivars lose leaf color at the top of the recommended light range (Chen et al., 2003).

Water and warmth. Keep the mix moist but not soggy, watering once the top 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) are dry (Clemson Cooperative Extension, 2025); overwatering can cause root rot (North Carolina State Extension, n.d.). Clemson puts the best range at 68–80°F (20–27°C) and says to avoid anything below 55°F (13°C) (Clemson Cooperative Extension, 2025). Cold tolerance varies by cultivar: in UF/IFAS chilling trials, chilling injury set in at around 45°F (7°C) for 'Maria' but above 55°F (13°C) for 'Silver Queen' (Chen et al., 2001). If greenhouses grow cold-sensitive cultivars, the authors advise keeping them above 60°F (16°C) (Chen et al., 2001). Chilling shows as gray spots that turn dark and greasy, so keep plants away from drafts and cold windows (Chen et al., 2003).

Potting mix and feeding. Pot in a standard soilless potting mix with extra humus, in a container with drainage holes (Clemson Cooperative Extension, 2025). Feed a dilute balanced fertilizer about once a month in the growing season; overfeeding builds up salts that damage leaf edges and tips (Chen et al., 2003; Royal Horticultural Society, n.d.-b).

Common problems & pests

What you see	Likely cause	What to do
Yellowing leaves	Possibly a chill; overwatering can also cause root rot	Move it somewhere warmer; let the mix dry between waterings.
Gray spots that darken and look greasy	Chilling injury	Keep it warm and out of drafts.
Brown leaf edges or tips	Very dry air, drafts, or too much fertilizer	Raise the humidity, move it out of drafts and feed less.
Pale, washed-out leaves	Too much light or heat	Move it to softer, indirect light; badly bleached leaves may not recover.
Spider mites or mealybugs	Pests to watch for on Aglaonema	Isolate it and see our Field Manual's spider mite guide or mealybug guide.

In this genus

Each plant inherits the genus care above; the note is only what differs.