Aglaonema 'Crete'
Chinese evergreen 'Crete'
A slow-growing tropical evergreen perennial, about 60-70cm tall, with lush green foliage, edged and marbled with reddish-pink and cream, the leaves produced above upright pale pink stems; cream or greenish-white flower spathes are intermittently produced though the year
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink | Green Pink Red Cream | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink | Green Pink Red Cream | ||
| Autumn | Pink | Green Pink Red Cream | ||
| Winter | Pink | Green Pink Red Cream |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H1BBotanical details
- Family
- Araceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Potentially harmful
- Humans/Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin/eye irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
- Genus
Aglaonema are rhizomatous evergreen perennials with short stems bearing long-stalked, often attractively variegated leaves and rather insignificant, greenish or cream flowering spathes
- Name status
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow indoors in a peat-free houseplant compost, with indirect light. Water to keep compost moist but not soggy, and apply a general liquid fertiliser monthly from spring to autumn. Provide high humidity by placing the container on a tray of moist gravel or pebbles. Reduce watering in winter, allowing the compost to dry between waterings. See houseplant cultivation for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by division, separating basal shoots with three or four leaves, with roots attached, in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Houseplants
- Sub-tropical
- Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to mealybugs infesting the leaf axils
Diseases
Generally disease-free, but may be susceptible to stem or root rot from overwatering
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.