Is Chinese Evergreen safe for cats and dogs?

What the ASPCA lists for Chinese Evergreen

The ASPCA records Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema, family Araceae) as Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses. Toxic principle: Insoluble calcium oxalates. Clinical signs listed: Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing. Read the ASPCA entry.

Insoluble calcium oxalates again, so the pattern is immediate mouth pain rather than a delayed illness. The signs to watch for are drooling, pawing at the mouth and refusing food. Call rather than wait if the mouth or tongue is visibly swelling, because swelling is the sign that can interfere with breathing.

The ASPCA carries one Aglaonema, filed as Aglaonema modestum, and that is the entry this page cites. Garden centers sell Chinese evergreen as a group of hybrids under names like Silver Bay, Maria and Red Siam, and none of those has an entry of its own. They are all Aglaonema and all aroids, the same family as dieffenbachia and philodendron, so the sourced verdict for A. modestum is the right guide for the whole group.

What this verdict does and does not mean

Being non-toxic does not mean a plant is chew-proof: even pet-safe houseplants can upset a cat's or dog's stomach if they eat a large amount, simply because it is plant matter. Most toxic houseplants cause irritant-level symptoms, such as drooling, mouth soreness, or a mild upset stomach, rather than a medical emergency. A small number of plants are a genuine emergency, most notably true lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) for cats, which can cause fatal kidney failure from even a small amount of pollen or a nibbled leaf. If you are ever in doubt, or your pet has eaten part of a plant, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.

Safer alternatives

Looking for something with a similar look and habit that is pet-safe instead?

• Calathea, see the care guide.
• Peperomia, see the care guide.
• Fittonia (Nerve Plant), see the care guide.

More on pet safety

Read the full care guide for Chinese Evergreen, browse the pet safety checker for other plants, or identify a plant from a photo first if you are not sure what you have. Verdicts here follow the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.