Let’s say a friend has given you a gift: a houseplant with beautiful, speckled, lance-shaped leaves. Your friend isn’t 100% sure what your new plant is called. All they can tell you is that it’s either a Dieffenbachia or an Aglaonema. You decide to research it yourself…and after a few hours of googling, you’re hopelessly confused. Just what the heck is the difference between these two plants?
Dieffenbachia, or Dumb Cane, can be extremely hard to distinguish from Aglaonema, or Chinese Evergreen. Both tend to produce elliptic or oblong leaves with dramatic, mottled patterns in contrasting shades of green. One major difference is that Chinese Evergreens are much more likely to include silvery-gray or pink coloration. They also have fewer lateral veins, typically 5-8 per leaf as opposed to the 20-30 seen on Dieffenbachias.
The difference does matter. For one thing, Aglaonemas tend to be more forgiving of less-than-expert care, particularly when it comes to tolerating lower light levels. More importantly, although both plants are toxic if ingested, Dieffenbachia poisoning tends to be much more severe. You’ll need to be extra-cautious about keeping it away from kids and pets. We’ll discuss the similarities and differences in more detail below.
Is Chinese Evergreen a Type of Dieffenbachia?
Dumb Cane and Chinese Evergreen are both popular houseplants, and their similar appearances have led many to wonder if they’re different varieties of the same plant. The answer is no – Dumb Cane is the common name of the genus Dieffenbachia, while Chinese Evergreen refers to the genus Aglaonema.
They are, however, members of the same family: the Araceae, also known as aroids. Lots of other common houseplants fall under this umbrella; since they’re shade-tolerant and thrive at the temperatures where many people are comfortable, aroids make excellent indoor plants. Here are some other popular examples:
- Monsteras
- Anthuriums
- Pothos
- Peace Lilies
- ZZ Plants
- Arrowhead Vines
Because they’re so closely related, Dieffenbachia and Aglaonema have similar care needs. Both of them prefer to be out of direct sunlight, which can scorch and wither their foliage. Bright but indirect light is best for both kinds of plants, though Aglaonemas can handle shadier conditions.
Like most aroids, these plants do well in soil that drains well and stays moist, but not drenched. Once again, Aglaonemas are a little better at withstanding less-than-ideal conditions. They’ll hold up a lot better if you accidentally go a few extra days without watering them. The same goes for humidity – both plants like moist air, but Aglaonemas are less picky.
How to Tell Dieffenbachia from Chinese Evergreen
Distinguishing between a Chinese Evergreen and a Dieffenbachia is challenging even for dedicated houseplant enthusiasts. And it only gets harder as time goes on, because growers are constantly trying to breed new cultivars that look different from existing species. With each variety of Aglaonema that pops up, it becomes more difficult to say anything about the “look” of the genus that won’t be contradicted by some flashy new hybrid.
So as we talk about the differences between these two kinds of houseplants, keep in mind that we’re talking about tendencies, not hard-and-fast rules.
Coloration
Both Dieffenbachias and Aglaonemas are known for their variegation, and the most popular species cover their leaves with dots and dashes ranging from deep forest green to creamy white. Many varieties have foliage that’s brighter toward the center and darker at the edges, making it look as though someone splashed a ragged stripe of light-colored paint down the middle of each leaf.
As a rule, Chinese Evergreens are more likely to contain silvery-gray coloration mixed in with their shades of green. Only a few Dieffenbachia varieties, like the Tropical Tiki or the Panther, include this color. Many Aglaonemas also show off rosy notes of pink. If your plant has a silvery or pinkish tint, it’s most likely a Chinese Evergreen – and if it’s more pink than anything else, you can be virtually certain.
On the other hand, Dieffenbachias often sport a fair amount of yellow or lime green, which isn’t as common among Aglaonemas. Varieties like the Honeydew or the Tropic Marianne show beautiful shading from brilliant white at the center that deepens to yellow, then dark green, as the eye moves toward the edges.
Height
As they mature, Dieffenbachias usually push upward on tall, cane-like central stalks until they resemble stalks of bamboo or tall trees. Their full-grown height varies between species, but most will get at least 3 feet tall given enough room to stretch out. Some varieties go much further, reaching as high as 10 feet.
Chinese Evergreens remain much closer to the ground and grow in a more shrub-like shape. They typically top out at around 2 feet.
If your plant is still young, this won’t help much with identification; you’ll have to wait until it reaches its full height. However, if it’s already 4 or more feet tall, you can be reasonably safe in assuming it’s a Dieffenbachia.
As with almost all of these distinctions, this one has exceptions. The species Dieffenbachia compacta is, as you’ve probably guessed, a compact variety, typically remaining around 2 feet high. And a few Aglaonema cultivars, like the BJ Freeman or the Emerald Star, can reach up to 4 feet. But as a general rule, a tall and skinny plant is much more likely to be a Dieffenbachia than an Aglaonema.
Veins
Another way to distinguish between these two types of plant is by counting the veins that branch out from the center of each leaf to the edge. Some are larger and more pronounced than others, and a Dieffenbachia will have many more of these standout veins – around 20-30, compared to the 5-8 usually found on a Chinese Evergreen.
This can be tricky, because it requires a bit of a judgment call as to which veins are major and which are minor. But you can usually spot the difference between the slightly wider and deeper creases and the less visible ones.
Safety Concerns
The most dramatic difference between Aglaonemas and Dieffenbachias is also one that you can’t see with the naked eye: Dieffenbachias are much more harmful if ingested.
Both species share a defense mechanism that’s common among aroids. Their tissues are filled with tiny, needle-sharp crystals of a mineral called calcium oxalate. These microscopic spikes can pierce the cells of mucous membranes, leading to painful irritation when they come in contact with your eyes, nose, or mouth.
So you don’t want to snack on the leaves of either plant. However, Dieffenbachias pair these crystals with enzymes that break down the proteins in animal cells, causing quite a bit more pain. Chewing or swallowing Dieffenbachia leaves can cause open sores and swelling of the throat and tongue. This is where the common name “Dumb Cane” comes from – people suffering from Dieffenbachia poisoning are often unable to speak until the swelling goes down.
Hopefully, this doesn’t need to be said, but just in case: do NOT nibble on your plant’s leaves or rub the sap on your skin to see if you have a Dieffenbachia or a Chinese Evergreen. Regardless of which plant you have, take reasonable precautions to avoid toxic side effects.
The good news is that these precautions are simple: don’t eat any part of the plant and don’t touch your face after handling it. Wear gloves if you trim the leaves to minimize contact with your skin and keep your plant well out of reach of any children or pets. If someone in your house does eat a piece of Dieffenbachia, it’s not likely to be fatal, but you should definitely call Poison Control to be safe.
Final Thoughts
Unless you can identify the specific variety based on its patterning, it’s hard to be certain whether you’re looking at an Aglaonema or a Dieffenbachia. But you can make a decent educated guess by looking for the features we’ve described above. No matter which type you have, you should give it lots of indirect light, keep it in a potting mix with good drainage, and take care not to overwater. That will help your plant’s gorgeous foliage flourish and grow.