Plant profile
Chinese evergreen
Aglaonema commutatum
Also known as Aglaonema.
Chinese evergreen is a compact tropical foliage plant grown for its patterned leaves and ability to handle lower indoor light than many houseplants. Green-leaved forms are the most tolerant of dimmer positions, while strongly variegated and coloured cultivars need brighter filtered light to keep their markings.
- Grows well in
- Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate
- Lifecycle
- Evergreen tropical subshrub
- Light
- Part shade, Shade
- Mature size
- Usually 30–90 cm tall and 30–60 cm wide indoors, depending on cultivar and age.
- Spacing
- One plant per pot; allow roughly 30–60 cm width indoors.
- Growth habit
- Compact, upright to spreading evergreen foliage plant with short stems that may become cane-like with age.
- Native range
- Philippines and Sulawesi.
- Natural habitat
- Wet tropical forest and shaded forest-floor habitats.
When to plant
Repot during warm active growth when roots have filled the pot. Indoors it can be planted at any time if conditions stay warm, but spring and early summer are easiest.
Position and light
Bright indirect light to moderate filtered light is ideal. Green forms grow in lower light, although growth slows. Keep coloured or heavily variegated cultivars closer to a bright window without harsh midday sun. Strong direct sun can scorch the leaves.
Soil
Use a free-draining indoor potting mix with enough coarse material to keep air around the roots. The mix should hold some moisture without remaining saturated for long periods.
Watering
Water thoroughly, then wait until the upper few centimetres of mix have dried before watering again. Chinese evergreen uses water slowly in low light, so check the mix rather than watering on a fixed schedule. Reduce watering during cool weather and slow growth.
Feeding
Feed lightly during active growth with a balanced indoor-plant fertiliser at the label rate. Little feeding is needed during cool or low-light periods.
Pruning
Remove yellow or damaged leaves at the base. Older bare stems can be cut back during warm active growth if you want a fuller plant; healthy stems can reshoot below the cut.
Propagation
Divide established clumps when repotting, or root stem sections and tip cuttings in warm conditions.
Common problems
Yellow leaves and soft stems commonly follow prolonged wet mix. Brown edges can come from dry conditions or salt build-up. Mealybugs, scale and spider mites can occur indoors.
Safety notes
Aglaonema contains calcium oxalate crystals that can irritate the mouth and digestive tract if chewed.
Worth knowing
Chinese evergreen is a common name used across Aglaonema cultivars and hybrids. This profile uses Aglaonema commutatum as the species reference; named cultivars can differ considerably in leaf colour, mature size and light needs.
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