Chinese Evergreen is grown for its foliage and the structure it brings to a planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 10 through 12, shrugs off deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground.
Zones
10-12
pH Range
5.6-6.5
Sun
Shade
Days to Maturity
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Score Chinese Evergreen on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether chinese evergreen actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score chinese evergreen against your land's real conditions.
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What Chinese Evergreen is
Chinese Evergreen grows as a perennial and reaches around two feet at maturity. It blooms white in spring. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Chinese Evergreen
Chinese Evergreen grows in USDA zones 10 through 12. Chinese Evergreen does best in shade — at least 2 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.6 to 6.5, on well-drained ground.
USDA Zones
10-12
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.6 - 6.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Shade
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
2 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant chinese evergreen in shade with at least 2 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Chinese Evergreen prefers pH 5.6 to 6.5 (Growable Ground Plant Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Keep it in good form
Prune chinese evergreen to shape as it grows; the reward is its foliage and structure, not a harvest, so steady upkeep is the whole job.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — chinese evergreen is toxic to dogs and cats (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Chinese Evergreen isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Chinese Evergreen thrives
Chinese Evergreen is hardy across USDA zones 10 through 12. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 10–12·Where Chinese Evergreen growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Chinese Evergreen can grow in these states:
See if Chinese Evergreen will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether chinese evergreen actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Chinese Evergreen in my zone?
Chinese Evergreen grows in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Chinese Evergreen?
Most growers plant chinese evergreen after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Chinese Evergreen need?
Chinese Evergreen is shade-tolerant — it gets by on as little as 2 hours of direct sun, so it earns a place most vegetables can't use. A north-facing strip or the ground under a leafy canopy is right where it belongs. A Growable Ground report shows which corners of your land stay shaded through the day, turning those dim spots into planting spots.
What soil does Chinese Evergreen need?
Chinese Evergreen prefers soil pH 5.6 to 6.5, on well-drained ground (Growable Ground Plant Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Chinese Evergreen attract pollinators?
Chinese Evergreen isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Chinese Evergreen safe for pets?
Chinese Evergreen is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)