Growli
Let's go

Plant Library

10 Types of Chinese Evergreen: Aglaonema Guide

A guide to 10 types of Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema): Silver Bay, Maria, Siam Aurora, Cutlass, Pictum Tricolor and more — all toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).

Growli editorial team · 3 Jun 2026 · 7 min read

11 Types of Chinese Evergreen: Aglaonema Guide

Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema spp.) is one of the most forgiving foliage houseplants you can buy — happy in low to medium indirect light, tolerant of irregular watering, and available in a remarkable range of silver, green, pink and red leaf patterns. The classic silver-marbled forms like 'Silver Bay' and 'Maria' are nearly indestructible, while the newer pink and red hybrids ('Siam Aurora', the Valentine series, 'Sparkling Sarah') trade a little shade-tolerance for show-stopping colour.

This guide covers 11 widely sold, verifiable varieties, with a visual ID signal and a light-plus-water signal for each. One safety note up front: there is no such thing as a pet-safe Aglaonema. The ASPCA lists the entire genus as toxic to cats, dogs and horses because the foliage contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. If you share your home with pets, treat every variety below as an out-of-reach plant.

Match a chinese evergreen to your space: Snap your room in Growli — we'll measure the light level and tell you which variety will thrive in your conditions.

Related: Aglaonema care guide · types of pothos · pet-safe houseplants

The 10 most common types of chinese evergreen

1. Silver Bay — Aglaonema commutatum 'Silver Bay'

Large, broad lance-shaped leaves with a wide silvery-grey centre and a dark green margin and midrib; one of the bushiest, fastest-growing forms, reaching up to about 3 ft (90 cm) tall.

Care signal: Low to bright indirect light (very shade-tolerant); water when the top ~50% of the soil is dry, less in low light.

2. Maria (Emerald Beauty) — Aglaonema commutatum 'Maria'

Compact, dark green leaves overlaid with soft silver-grey feathering along the veins; narrower and more upright than 'Silver Bay'. Often sold under the synonym 'Emerald Beauty'.

Care signal: One of the most low-light tolerant forms; let the top half of the pot dry between waterings.

3. Silver Queen — Aglaonema 'Silver Queen'

Pale silver-green, lance-shaped leaves speckled and streaked with dark green, but the leaf margins always stay dark green. An older, award-style classic with a full, arching habit.

Care signal: Medium to low indirect light; keep lightly moist, allowing the top of the soil to dry first.

4. Cutlass — Aglaonema 'Cutlass'

Distinctively long, narrow, sword-shaped leaves (hence the name) in creamy silver-green with a dark green centre and edge — the most strap-leaved of the common varieties.

Care signal: Tolerates low light well; water when about half the soil volume has dried out.

5. Siam Aurora (Red Siam) — Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora'

Deep green leaves boldly edged and veined in bright red to hot pink, with red leaf stalks. Sold interchangeably as 'Red Siam' or 'Siam'.

Care signal: Wants brighter (but still indirect) light than the silver types to keep its red colour; water at ~50% dry.

6. Red Valentine — Aglaonema 'Red Valentine'

Glossy elliptical leaves splashed with pink and red over green, with red-flushed stems. Frequently sold under the near-identical trade name 'Lady Valentine' — treat the two as the same look.

Care signal: Medium to bright indirect light brings out the pink; water when the top half of the soil is dry.

7. Sparkling Sarah — Aglaonema 'Sparkling Sarah'

Broad, glossy green leaves with a soft pink midrib and stems, scattered with pink and white speckles. Part of the patented Jazzed Gems collection.

Care signal: Medium to bright indirect light to hold its pink tones; allow the top ~50% of soil to dry between drinks.

8. Pictum Tricolor — Aglaonema pictum 'Tricolor'

Unmistakable military-camouflage pattern — three irregular shades of green (light, medium, dark) in organic patches on oval, leathery leaves. A distinct species (A. pictum, from Sumatra), not a commutatum form.

Care signal: Prefers medium indirect light and higher humidity; water when the top inch or two dries, never waterlogged.

9. Emerald Bay — Aglaonema commutatum 'Emerald Bay'

Similar broad leaves to 'Silver Bay' but with a deeper green base and a greener, less silvery centre — a darker, more shade-friendly counterpart.

Care signal: Excellent in low to medium indirect light; let about half the soil dry before watering.

10. Diamond Bay — Aglaonema commutatum 'Diamond Bay'

Large leaves with an even broader, brighter silver-white centre than 'Silver Bay' and a crisp dark green border; a strong upright, full habit.

Care signal: Low to bright indirect light; water when the top ~50% of the soil has dried out.

Are chinese evergreen toxic to cats and dogs?

All Chinese evergreens are toxic — there are no pet-safe varieties in this group. The ASPCA lists Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen, scientific name Aglaonema modestum, family Araceae) as toxic to cats, toxic to dogs and toxic to horses. The toxic principle is insoluble calcium oxalates: needle-like crystals that, when the plant is chewed, embed in the mouth and throat and cause oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not in horses) and difficulty swallowing.

Because oxalates are present throughout the genus, the per-variety breakdown is uniform — every cultivar in this guide is toxic / not pet-safe:

These are typically mild-to-moderate oral irritants rather than life-threatening poisons, but reactions vary by pet and amount chewed. If your cat or dog ingests any part of an Aglaonema, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Keep all varieties out of reach of pets and children.

Frequently asked questions

Which Chinese evergreen is best for low light?

The darker, silver-and-green forms are the most shade-tolerant: 'Silver Bay', 'Maria' (Emerald Beauty), 'Silver Queen', 'Cutlass' and 'Emerald Bay' all do well in low to medium indirect light. The pink and red hybrids — 'Siam Aurora', the Valentine series and 'Sparkling Sarah' — need brighter indirect light to keep their colour, so they are not ideal for genuinely dim corners.

Are Chinese evergreens safe for cats and dogs?

No. The ASPCA lists Aglaonema as toxic to cats, dogs and horses because of insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing causes oral irritation, drooling, mouth and tongue swelling, and vomiting. This applies to every variety, including the pretty pink and red ones, so keep all of them out of reach of pets.

What is the difference between a green and a red Aglaonema?

Green and silver Aglaonemas (such as 'Silver Bay', 'Maria' and 'Silver Queen') are the original commutatum-type plants — extremely shade-tolerant and very easy. The red and pink cultivars (such as 'Siam Aurora', 'Red/Lady Valentine' and 'Sparkling Sarah') are newer hybrids bred for vivid colour; they need more indirect light to stay bright but are otherwise cared for the same way.

Is Aglaonema 'Maria' the same as 'Emerald Beauty'?

Yes, in practice. 'Maria' is very often sold under the trade name 'Emerald Beauty', and the two labels describe the same dark green, silver-feathered, low-light-tolerant plant. If you see both names at a garden centre, expect a very similar plant.

Why is my Chinese evergreen losing its pink or red colour?

Insufficient light is the usual cause. Pink and red varieties like 'Siam Aurora', 'Sparkling Sarah' and the Valentine types develop their best colour in bright indirect light; in a dim spot they revert to greener, duller foliage. Move the plant somewhere brighter — but out of harsh direct sun, which scorches the leaves.

How often should I water a Chinese evergreen?

Water when roughly the top half of the potting mix has dried out, then water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom and empty the saucer. Aglaonemas prefer to be slightly too dry rather than soggy, and they need far less water in low light or winter. Overwatering and cold, wet roots are the most common ways to kill them.

Is Pictum Tricolor a true Chinese evergreen?

Yes — it is Aglaonema pictum 'Tricolor', a distinct species from Sumatra rather than one of the common commutatum hybrids. Its camouflage-patterned leaves are the giveaway. It is a little fussier about humidity than the silver types but is the same genus and is equally toxic to pets.

Related articles

More from Plant Library