# Identify this house plant?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-house-plant/558130>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 23, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-house-plant/558130 "2010-10-23T21:28:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BvAnna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@BvAnna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BvAnna)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-house-plant/558130/1 "2010-10-23T21:28:59Z")

</div>

Please help me identify this house plant. Thanks

[http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o308/Vickrey2/plant.jpg](http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o308/Vickrey2/plant.jpg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-house-plant/558130/2 "2010-10-23T22:06:15Z")

</div>

Looks like something in the Araceae…probably Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-house-plant/558130/3 "2010-10-24T00:22:25Z")

</div>

I agree with jayjay.

I will also add that it’s not getting nearly enough light. It’s extremely elongated and pale. You need brighter lights.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-house-plant/558130/4 "2010-10-24T01:09:21Z")

</div>

I agree that it is not getting enough light. It could be an Aglaonema, but it looks a bit more like a Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) to me.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-house-plant/558130/5 "2010-10-24T01:38:19Z")

</div>

> [@Monstera\_deliciosa](#):
>
> I agree that it is not getting enough light. It could be an Aglaonema, but it looks a bit more like a Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) to me.

Its a diffenbachia, aka dumbcane or mother-in-law plant, as sap can 'paralyze tongue/oral area if tasted, iirc. A closer pic would make it 100% certain, or OP looking at pics of diffs themselves, of course.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-house-plant/558130/6 "2010-10-24T02:16:51Z")

</div>

I was thinking a Diffenbachia as well.

Aglaonema actually thrives in low-light situations; Diffenbachia (which the stem appearance suggests) needs brighter surroundings.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BvAnna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@BvAnna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BvAnna)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-house-plant/558130/7 "2010-10-24T19:44:01Z")

</div>

Thanks so much to all of you who responded. This was given to me about 2 months ago…I repotted it and will most definitely move it to a brighter spot in the house now that I know what it is 🙂