Origins
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) - known for patterned, colorful foliage - experienced a variety explosion 2017-2020 as growers released pink, red, and neon cultivars.
The Color Revolution (2017-2020)
Chinese Evergreens evolved from “boring office plant” to Instagram-worthy statement:
Classic varieties:
- Silver Bay (silver-green, $15-25)
- Maria (dark green, $12-20)
New colorful varieties (2017-2020):
- Siam Aurora (hot pink, $30-60)
- Red Valentine (red-pink edges, $25-50)
- Pink Dalmatian (pink speckles, $30-60)
- Super White (almost entirely white-silver, $40-80)
Why They Became Popular (2017-2021)
Beginner-friendly traits:
- Tolerates low light (offices, bathrooms)
- Survives neglect (thick rhizomes store water)
- Slow-growing (repot every 2-3 years)
- Air-purifying (NASA list)
- Colorful without flowers
Instagram growth: 100K posts (2017) → 400K+ posts (2021).
The Pink Obsession (2018-2020)
Pink Aglaonema varieties became highly sought:
- Siam Aurora sold out constantly
- Costa Farms released tissue-culture pink varieties
- “Pink plant” trend extended to Aglaonema
Care Reality
Easy maintenance:
- Water every 1-2 weeks
- Low to medium light
- Minimal fertilizer
- Pest-resistant
One challenge:
- Toxic to cats/dogs (calcium oxalate)
Cultural Impact
Chinese Evergreens proved that classic plants could reinvent themselves with colorful cultivars. The old became new again.
Sources
- Costa Farms Aglaonema releases (2017-2020)
- r/Houseplants Chinese Evergreen posts
- “Best Low-Light Plants” (The Spruce, 2019)