Kurt Stüber [1] · CC BY-SA 3.0
About
The genus *Aglaonema* is highly popular in horticulture, known for its wide array of variegated cultivars and its ability to thrive as a low-light houseplant. The species are valued for their ornamental foliage, which often features striking silver and green patterns.
Field notes
Morphology
These evergreen perennials have erect or decumbent stems that can root at the nodes. They typically feature a crown of wide leaf blades, which in wild species are often variegated with silver and green coloration. The inflorescence bears unisexual flowers in a spadix, with a short zone of female flowers near the base and a wider zone of male flowers nearer the tip. The fruit is a fleshy berry that ripens red.
Distribution & habitat
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and New Guinea, with specific species found in locations such as Indochina, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo.
Cultivation notes
They are popular houseplants that prefer low-light conditions and moist soil. Care requires protecting them from cold temperatures, as chilling injury can occur at 15 °C (59 °F). Propagation is typically done with cuttings or by dividing basal shoots. It is important to remove any developing inflorescences to prolong the plant's life.
History & etymology
The genus has been grown as luck-bringing ornamental plants in Asia for centuries and was introduced to the West in 1885 at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Habitat
- Altitude
- —
- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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