Aglaonema commutatum · also called Aglaonema, Philippine evergreen, Poison dart plant
⚠ Toxic to pets
Toxic to cats and/or dogs — keep out of reach.
A handsome, low-light-tolerant aroid grown for its patterned leaves, which range from silvery-green to striking pinks and reds in modern cultivars. Compact and undemanding, it is a long-favored plant for offices and shady rooms.
ℹ️
Educational only. KinStation content is reviewed by licensed veterinarians but cannot replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.
Quick facts
Category
Foliage
Family
Araceae
Native origin
Tropical forests of Southeast Asia (the Philippines and northeastern Sulawesi)
Care difficulty
Beginner
Light
Low light
Pet toxicity
Toxic to pets
Light
Green-leaved Chinese evergreens are among the most shade-tolerant of foliage plants and grow well in low to medium light. The colorful pink, red, and heavily variegated cultivars need brighter indirect light to keep their vivid coloring, fading to green in deep shade. Direct sun scorches all of them.
Water
Water when the top inch or two of soil dries, soaking thoroughly and draining the excess; let it dry a bit more in winter. The plant prefers consistent but not constant moisture and is fairly forgiving, though it is sensitive to overwatering and cold water. Yellowing lower leaves often indicate too much water.
Soil & potting
Use a rich, well-draining potting mix — an all-purpose blend with added perlite works well. Good drainage protects against root rot. Slow-growing and content somewhat pot-bound, it needs repotting only every couple of years.
Environment — humidity, temperature, placement
A warmth-loving tropical, the Chinese evergreen dislikes cold and is sensitive to chilling, preferring temperatures above about 60-65F (15-18C) and protection from cold drafts. It tolerates ordinary household humidity but grows lushest with extra moisture in the air. Brown leaf patches can follow exposure to cold.
Propagation
Propagate by division at repotting, separating rooted clumps or basal offshoots into individual plants. Stem cuttings of older, caned stems can also be rooted in water or soil. Division is the most reliable method and keeps the cultivar's coloring true.
Toxicity detail
Toxic to cats and dogs. The ASPCA lists Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen) as toxic due to insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing the leaves or stems causes oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth and lips, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. Keep it away from pets and contact a veterinarian if ingestion is suspected. Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control toxic-plant database.
Origin & history
Aglaonema commutatum is a tropical aroid from the forests of Southeast Asia, long cultivated and considered a lucky plant in parts of Asia. Modern breeding, especially in Thailand, has transformed it from a strictly green foliage plant into a kaleidoscope of pink, red, and silver cultivars that helped drive its recent popularity. It was included among the foliage plants in NASA's Clean Air Study.
Growth stages
How this plant changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Seed
Most plants begin as a seed (or spore in ferns) — a dormant package holding the embryo and a food reserve within a protective coat. Given moisture, warmth, and sometimes light, the seed breaks dormancy and germinates.
Photo coming soon
Seedling
The seedling emerges with a root and its first leaves (cotyledons), then true leaves. It is tender and shallow-rooted, dependent on steady moisture and light as it establishes the beginnings of stem and root systems.
Photo coming soon
Vegetative growth
In the vegetative phase the plant focuses on growing roots, stems, and foliage, building the size and structure it needs before flowering. This is the main period of leafing out and, for many houseplants, the stage at which they are grown and propagated.
Mature / Flowering
A mature plant reaches its full habit and, when conditions and age allow, flowers and sets seed (or, for foliage plants, simply attains its full adult size and form). This is the stage shown in most reference photos.
Varieties & cultivars
Natural forms are the wild species; cultivars are selectively-bred colour or variegation forms of the same plant.
Cultivars4
Silver Bay
Large leaves with a broad silver-grey centre feathering out to dark green margins. One of the most robust silvery aglaonemas.
💡 Tolerates lower light, but bright indirect light keeps the silver crisp.
Maria
Compact dark-green cultivar with fine silvery-grey brushstrokes along the veins. The toughest, most shade-tolerant of the group.
💡 Handles low light well; mostly green so variegation is low-maintenance.
Siam Aurora (Red)
Bred for colour: green leaves flushed with bright pink-to-red veins and margins, sometimes nearly all red. A modern Thai-bred colour form.
💡 Needs bright indirect light to develop and hold the red; in low light the pink fades to green.
Pink (Pink Dalmatian / Pink Splash)
Green leaves freckled and splashed with pink spots and blotches scattered across the surface. Whimsical, speckled colouring.
💡 Bright indirect light intensifies the pink speckling; too dim and the spots dull.
Problems & solutions
Each problem lists a proven fix (horticulture / extension-backed) and, where useful, an anecdotal remedy from the grower community — clearly labeled so you can judge for yourself.
Yellowing leaves
mild
Symptoms:Leaves turn yellow, often the lower ones first, sometimes accompanied by soft stems.
Likely cause:Usually overwatering and soggy soil; cold exposure and very low light can also contribute. The occasional old leaf yellowing is normal.
✓ Proven fix
Let the top inch or two of soil dry before watering and ensure the pot drains. Keep the plant warm and out of cold drafts, and remove yellowed leaves. Check roots for rot if yellowing spreads.
◇ Anecdotal remedy — grower lore, unverified
Some growers find a chronically yellowing Aglaonema recovers once moved off a cold windowsill or tile floor to a warmer interior spot.
Brown or scorched leaf patches
mild
Symptoms:Pale, bleached, or brown patches appear on the leaves, sometimes after a move.
Likely cause:Too much direct sun bleaching the foliage, or cold/draft damage causing brown blotches. Tap-water sensitivity can also brown the tips.
✓ Proven fix
Move the plant out of direct sun into bright indirect light, and protect it from cold drafts and chilling. Damaged leaves will not recover but new growth will be clean.
◇ Anecdotal remedy — grower lore, unverified
Keepers of the colorful cultivars often note they need brighter light than the green types but still scorch easily, and report the best color in a bright spot just out of direct rays.
Faded coloration on variegated cultivars
mild
Symptoms:Vivid pink, red, or silver patterning dulls toward plain green.
Likely cause:Insufficient light for the colorful cultivars, which need more brightness than the all-green types to maintain their pigments.
✓ Proven fix
Give the plant more bright, indirect light (without direct sun). New leaves will emerge with stronger coloring as light improves.
◇ Anecdotal remedy — grower lore, unverified
Collectors of red Aglaonema commonly report that the same plant is 'almost green' in a dim room and 'fire-engine red' a few feet from a bright window.
Anecdotes & grower lore
Community experience and cultural notes — not horticultural guarantees. Conditions vary by home; treat these as colour, not prescriptions.
Aglaonema is a favorite 'cubicle survivor,' famous among office workers for staying handsome under fluorescent light with almost no attention. In parts of Southeast Asia it carries a reputation as a bringer of good fortune, and the explosion of brilliantly colored red and pink cultivars has turned it into a collector's plant, with enthusiasts trading named varieties and debating which holds its color best in low light.
Reviewed and signed off by: KinStation Editorial — pre-launch draft (pending horticulture review) on 2026-05-28
