Chinese evergreen is an herbaceous perennial in the Araceae (arum) family and is native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia and New Guinea. There are 26 species in the genus and many cultivars. It is commonly grown as a houseplant and is one of the easiest to grow in the home or office. This tropical shrub grows to 1.5 feet, is erect and bushy, and resembles a dumb cane ( Dieffenbachia ). The tendency to have only 5-8 main lateral veins distinguishes it from Dieffenbachi a. It has lance-shaped leaves that reach 4 to 8 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide and that may be attractively variegated with white, silver, pink and/or red. It may produce a white spadix and greenish-white spathe, but houseplants may not flower if the light level is low. Red clusters of berries follow the blooms. The plant does well in diffuse sun or good indirect light and prefers high humidity but will tolerate dryer air. Keep the potting mix moist from spring to fall. It does not require a winter dormancy period but prefers a reduction in watering during the winter. Remove flowers and fruits to direct energy to plant growth. It is intolerant of cold temperatures and prefers a daytime temperature in the 70 to 80-degree F range. The plant tends to get leggy with age as the stem grows. It is an excellent plant for low-light, indoor locations; it can also be used outdoors as a filler plant or low hedge in warm regions. Grow it in an Asian or shade garden, in a container, beside a patio or walkway, or in a woodland setting. Quick ID Hints: Lanceolate leaves are green and variegated with yellow/cream, grey, or pink/red Leaves contain 5–8 main lateral veins Inflorescence is white spadix and greenish-white spathe Stem is present, becoming sugarcane-like with age Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: There are no serious disease or insect problems, but watch for aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and scale. Root rots can occur with over-watering; allow the medium to dry between waterings and avoid using cold water. The leaves may turn brown in very dry air or a drafty location. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 8 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Coarse
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Gray/Silver; Green; Pink; Red/Burgundy; Variegated; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Other/more complex
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
It has elliptic dark green lance-shaped leaves that reach 4-12" long and 2-4" wide. Alternate, simple, oblong-lanceolate, acute, cuneate, entire, often with banded yellow-white, grey-white, or pink-red along primary veins or spotted. Veins are curved and minor veins are not visible. Petioles are sometimes white and shorter than the leaf length.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green; White
Flower form
Spadix
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Blooms rarely as a houseplant in the late summer or early fall with a whitish-yellow spadix with yellow-green spathe. Cylindrical to club-shaped; spathe, stalked, ovate, greenish to yellow.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
Red clusters of berries follow the blooms. A globose to cylindroid berry, green ripening to white or red.
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green; Pink; White
Stem detail
Attractive silver-gray blotches appear on upright stems, usually white or green, sometimes with a pink cast. Erect, becoming decumbent, encircled with leaf scars.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Northeast India to Papua New Guinea
Distribution
Native: Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China, East Himalaya, Jawa, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines, Sumatra, Thailand, and Vietnam. Introduced: Cuba, India, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, United States, Venezuelan Antilles
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Berry
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants; Patio; Small Space; Walkways; Woodland
This plant contains calcium oxalate crystals, which are toxic if ingested or if the juice/sap is touched (dermatitis). More so a concern for dogs, cats, and horses but can also 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.