Aglaonema, Red "Siam Aurora" (Aglaonema commutatum)

Also known as aglaonema, golden evergreen, Chinese evergreen, Philippine evergreen, poison dart plant

The following plant information was last updated on 10/2/2021.

Plant Type: evergreen, herbaceous perennial

Plant Family: arum family (Araceae)

Visual Identification: large, narrow, and glossy oval leaves on short stems, and flowers (on older plants) that bloom in spring or summer.

Native Region(s): tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and New Guinea

Landscape Use: Use as an annual in lower zones.

Height: 1-3 feet

Spread: 3 feet

Spacing: 2-3 feet

Hardiness Zones: 10a-11

Hardy Down To: They do not like the cold. Keep temperatures in the 70- to 85-degree level, and make sure wherever they are the temperatures don’t drop by more than 10 degrees at night. Temperatures below 45°F can injure the foliage.

Light: part shade to full shade outdoors, and anything from low to bright indirect light indoors.

Water: Let your plant dry out about 50% before watering again as too much liquid can lead to root rot. And keep this rule of thumb in mind: the less light your plant has, the less water it will need.

Soil: Peaty, well-drained, acidic soil.

Maintenance: These are easy to grow plants, great for the novice gardener! As long as they are warm enough, they will tolerate poor light, dry air and drought. A Chinese Evergreen can get leggy if planted in a pot that is too small for its roots, or as a consequence of improper lighting conditions. Symptoms include bare stems, visible roots out of the soil, and wilted leaves. To restore its bushy look, prune the leggy stems or repot the plant. It should be repotted every two years to give the roots ample space to expand.

Fertilize: Feed older Chinese evergreens a couple of times a year with water-soluble houseplant fertilizer.

Seasons of Interest: Blooms in spring or summer.

Toxicity: This plant contains calcium oxalate crystals, which is toxic if ingested or if the juice/sap is touched (dermatitis). More so a concern for dogs, cats, and horses but can a concern for humans. Animals may have the following symptoms: struggle to swallow, irritated/painful--even burning/swelling mouth (including lips and tongue and esophagus), may vomit, foam at the mouth, and much drooling. To humans and animals, it is poisonous if ingested (or if the juice from the plant is touched). Other symptoms (more so for humans) include a rash, pain where the rash is, and mucous membranes irritated.

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