Aglaonema ‘Zebra Feathers’

Cultivar Background

‘Zebra Feathers’ is a horticultural cultivar of Chinese evergreen, known by this cultivar name. Its selection history and parentage remain unknown.

Care for Aglaonema ‘Zebra Feathers’

• Light and orientation: Bright indirect light suits the narrow patterned leaves. Rotate the pot gradually if the plant leans strongly toward one side, and keep the foliage out of direct sun.
• Water and substrate: Water after the upper third or so of the substrate has dried, then let the pot drain thoroughly. Use a loose mix that can rewet evenly without staying saturated.
• Temperature and leaf care: Stable room warmth around 18–24 °C suits this cultivar. Shield it from cold air currents and do not leave it for long below about 15 °C. Wipe the long blades gently when dust builds up so their fine pattern remains easy to inspect.
• Feeding and repotting: Feed lightly in active growth. Repot only once roots have filled the current container, moving up by a modest amount.

Troubleshooting Aglaonema ‘Zebra Feathers’

• Cultivar pattern or pest marks: The regular pale lines following the veins are part of the cultivar. Random silvery scarring with black specks indicates thrips, while fine pale stippling with webbing indicates spider mites; distorted new leaves alone do not confirm either pest. If you confirm thrips or spider mites, isolate the plant, rinse hardened foliage and apply a treatment labelled for the confirmed pest to both leaf surfaces and the new growth. Repeat it at the intervals stated on the label for the full course.
• Yellowing in wet mix: Multiple yellow leaves with a heavy wet pot suggest the root ball is staying saturated. Extend the drying interval and make sure drainage is open. If yellowing continues, inspect the roots. Keep firm tissue, remove only soft dark sections and repot in fresh airy mix when decay is confirmed.
• Cold damage: Dark translucent patches after a cold draught are consistent with chilling injury. Return the plant to stable warmth and remove only tissue that becomes soft or begins to decay.
• Mealybugs: Cottony clusters around the pale petiole bases indicate mealybugs. Separate the plant, wipe off visible colonies and apply a houseplant treatment labelled for mealybugs to the petiole bases and leaf undersides. Repeat it at the intervals stated on the label for the full course, and continue follow-up checks until they remain clear.

Aglaonema ‘Zebra Feathers’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

Where does the name Aglaonema come from?

Aglaonema combines Greek aglaos, meaning shining or splendid, with nema, meaning thread or filament.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Aglaonema in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 1829, page 892.