Chinese Evergreen
Aglaonema modestum · Araceae
How it looks
Chinese Evergreen is a foliage plant with oval-to-lance-shaped leaves marked in silver, light green, and pink. The leaf patterns are highly varied, and pink-tinged varieties are popular. It grows compactly at 12–31 in (30–80 cm) tall and thrives even in shade.
Mild caution — stomach irritation
All parts of Chinese Evergreen contain irritating compounds that can cause vomiting if chewed. Most cats recover on their own, but as a caution-level plant it still calls for monitoring.
Guide for parents
An occasional nibble on Chinese Evergreen rarely leads to serious trouble, but its insoluble calcium oxalate crystals can irritate the stomach and mucous membranes, causing mild gastrointestinal upset. Make a habit of clearing away fallen leaves and broken stems the same day, and keep the pot somewhere your cat can't reach. If symptoms last more than 12 hours or your cat shows a marked loss of appetite, consult your vet.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Oral irritation, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
Details
- Scientific name
- Aglaonema modestum
- Common name
- Chinese Evergreen
- Family
- Araceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Oral irritation, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
- Source
- ASPCA
