New Guinea Shield Plant

New Guinea Shield (Aglaonema 'New Guinea Shield') is the indoor plant for the corner of the room the light never really reaches. It forms a broad clump about 90cm tall and 90cm across, with wide shield shaped leaves marbled in cream, silver and deep green. Growth is slow and steady, so it holds its shape for years without repotting.

Why you'll love it

• It handles genuinely low light. Hallways, south facing corners and offices lit by ceiling panels all work, though variegation stays brightest in bright indirect light.
• The foliage is the whole show. Flowers are insignificant and easily removed, so the cream and silver leaf pattern carries the plant every month of the year.
• Slow growing means low maintenance. It stays in the same pot for three or four years and rarely needs more than a tidy up of older leaves.
• Substantial without being wide. At around 90cm each way it reads as a floor plant, filling space a smaller aglaonema cannot.

Where it works best

Indoors, anywhere in the country. Inside a heated or cooled home your climate stops mattering, which counts for a plant this frost tender. Position it 2m to 3m back from a window, out of direct sun.

Pots and containers. Use a pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you can empty. A 300mm to 400mm decorative pot suits a mature plant.

Sheltered balconies and courtyards. Outdoors it is limited to frost free tropical and subtropical gardens, in full shade under a roof. Anywhere colder, treat it as an indoor plant.

Growing New Guinea Shield in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade to low light. Direct sun through glass bleaches the leaves within days. It is frost tender and stops growing below about 15 degrees, so keep it clear of cold draughts and unheated rooms in southern winters.

Soil. A premium indoor potting mix opened up with perlite or coarse bark. Free drainage matters more than richness, because this plant will not accept sitting in water.

Water and feed. Water when the top 3cm of mix is dry, roughly weekly in summer and every two to three weeks in winter. It appreciates humidity, so group it with other plants in dry inland air. Half strength liquid fertiliser monthly through spring and summer is plenty.

Pruning and safety. Cut spent leaves off at the base and wipe dust from the foliage so it can use what light it gets. Aglaonema is toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it off the floor in a home where pets chew leaves.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 200mm pots and sold in packs of six, which suits a hallway run, a shaded balcony or a small office fitout rather than a single specimen purchase. Plants arrive established and already showing their mature leaf pattern.

A dropped lower leaf after transit is normal. Unpack promptly, water once, then give it a fortnight in stable light before expecting new growth. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Best low light plants for the home
• Watering and light mistakes that kill indoor plants
• Browse low light indoor plants
• Compare other variegated foliage plants

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. The leaves and sap contain insoluble calcium oxalates, which cause mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting if chewed. Keep it on a stand or shelf if your pet is a nibbler.

How dark can I put it?

It survives in genuinely dim rooms, but the leaves lose contrast and growth almost stops. Bright indirect light gives the strongest pattern.

Why are the leaf edges going brown?

Usually dry air or salts building up in the mix. Flush the pot through with water every few months and move it away from air conditioning outlets.