Aglaonema Rich Red - Chinese evergreen

Aglaonema ‘Rich Red’, with its large raspberry-red leaves edged in green, is one of the most beautiful houseplants with colourful foliage for decorating a living room, hallway, or open-plan office. Compact, robust, and tolerant of low light, this modern selection creates a permanent display with minimal care. In a pot, this variety fits equally well into a contemporary setting or a more tropical decor.

Aglaonema 'Rich Red' belongs to the Araceae family, like philodendrons and monsteras. The genus is native to the humid tropical forests of Southeast Asia (Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, New Guinea), where the plants live in the understorey, in the shade of tall trees, in a warm and humid atmosphere. Many species, notably Aglaonema commutatum and A. nitidum, served as the basis for creating colourful cultivars in the 20th century in Asia and Florida.
'Rich Red’ is one of these recent hybrids, now mass-produced in China and Thailand for export, where aglaonemas are considered lucky plants. With a dense and compact habit, Aglaonema Rich Red forms a rosette of short, upright stems, adorned with evergreen leaves. Indoors, the plant reaches 40 to 60 cm in height with a 30 to 40 cm spread, sometimes more with age. The elliptical to ovate leaves, borne on light green to pinkish, fleshy petioles, measure 15 to 20 cm long by 5 to 8 cm wide. They have a thick, slightly leathery texture and a glossy surface. The leaf surface is very broadly coloured deep red to pink, especially in the centre, spotted or marbled with small dark green spots, while the leaf edge retains a thin green margin. 
The plant is considered mildly toxic (calcium oxalate crystals): care should be taken to prevent children and pets from ingesting its leaves.

Aglaonema 'Rich Red' appreciates medium to bright indirect light, without direct sun, which quickly burns its foliage. Red cultivars are more colourful if placed near a north or east-facing window, or behind a sheer curtain in a west-facing window. The ideal growing temperature is between 18 and 26 °C. The air in our homes, with an average humidity of 40 to 60%, is very suitable, although the plant appreciates a slightly more humid atmosphere.

This Aglaonema will thrive particularly well in a bright living room, office, or fairly light bedroom. A heated and well-lit bathroom will provide the humidity it prefers. With its red foliage, it will become the focal point of a green corner, placed on a console table, the arm of a sofa, or in a large planter. To create a cohesive display, pair it with other aglaonemas such as ‘Red Valentine’ and 'Red Zircon' to stay within the reds and pinks; 'Snowflake' will enrich the palette with its white-splashed foliage. Group these plants together in the same bright space without direct sunlight.