Below is a pink petioled ag which I think is the unnamed hybrid Tricolor X Manila, hybridized by Nat DeLeon back in the 60s. It is not Flamingo, a less stunning hybrid in my opinion.

Russ

This ag is probably a sister seedling of the Tricolor X Manila above, but could be a sport from it. This one has russet-colored petioles rather than pink. The russet color comes from a combination of green and pink, looks kinda brownish. Interestingly, leaves of the pink-petioled one usually have a yellowish stripe down the midrib, leave of the russet never do.

Russ

Another old heirloom ag, A. commutatum Pseudobracteatum. Nice color but it does get leggy, a common trait in old ag species and hybrids of the day.

Russ

Last one for now, A. commutatum Malay Beauty aka Pewter, another very old one. Not a beauty and gets leggy, but I like it.

I've got a number of Agloanemas but have given up on keeping up with the names. There's just so many hybrids and some look identical. Which is bound to happen when breeders are pumping them out so fast. Whenever I buy any they're usually just labelled "Aglaonema" so I just shove them in the ground and leave it at that. I've a very large number of aroids and even getting some of them ID'd to species level is a bit daunting, let alone getting into the hybrids and varieties.

I agree tropicbreezent, names have gotten way out of hand in almost every plant group. The same plant goes all over the country from different wholesalers with different names on them.

If you're interested you might post some pics here, I'd love to see what you grow and perhaps I could help with a name. Except for the multitude of Thai hybrids, I know aglaonemas fairly well.

Some folks just like to grow their plants and aren't particularly caring of names, and I can relate to and respect that. My passion is growing and propagating, and I'm not especially interested in the scientific and botanical minutia side of plants. I do however like to know what they are, a common and botanic name, so I can talk about them with other collectors. But of course an emailed picture can accomplish the same thing.

Most of the new hybrids are sold without names, but the majority are pretty distinctive in shape, color and pattern, and can usually be identified. To me, the new dieffenbachia hybrids are another story, sometimes there's only a minor difference.

Russ

I have about 60 different aroids that I've managed to get names for (no guarantee they're all 100% correct though), in about 25 different genera. And then there's those I've given up on getting a name for. But I won't say I'm really obsessed with aroids, I have about the the same number of species of palms. My obsessiveness is more with plants in general.

A lot of the new Ags here are coming over from Thailand, although we also have quite a few breeders here as well. That makes positively identifying these hybrids pretty much impossible unless you know the provenance of the plant. And when plants come from retail nurseries it's further complicated by some nurseries putting their own names on plants to improve marketability.

I'll try and get some photos together of my Ags and post them on another thread here.

Like you, I have vast plant interests, but aroids have always been a passion. I have a very large collection of sansevierias and have had big collections of other genera over the years. I like just about anything to do with horticulture in general... landscaping, greenhouses, etc as well as plants. My brother and I got it from our grandfather, who taught us how to plant Gerber Daisy seeds which he planted in tin cans and sold. Meager beginnings.

The number of aglaonema hybrids coming out of Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines is massive, no way to keep up with names. American hybrids are a bit easier altho there is name duplication without doubt.

Looking forward to seeing your pics!

Here is a Thai ag I especially like, Kaew Kanjana, below is a species from the Philippines, A. crispum, another favorite.

Russ

Ags are in the category of too many possibilities for me to attach a cultivar name to one that doesn't come with that on the tag. I want every one that looks different though!

Tiffany, other than the colorful Thai ags, most others do have enough differences that you can tell one from the other. I'll be posting pics of other ags I have, let me know if you see any that you can't live without. The Illumination at the top of this thread is very distinctive, no mistaking it for any other one. Same with the species just above, Crispum.

Russ

A few more aglaonemas. Russ, central Fla

B. J. Freeman

Calypso

Deborah

Gold Dust

Key Largo

Moonlight Bay

Peacock

Pseudobracteatum , very old variety

Malay Beauty aka Pewter, also very old variety

Shades aka Black Beauty

Silver Bay, very common in big box stores

I think this is commutatum v. commutatum f. Elegans , quite easy to grow this from seeds

A newer hybrid but unidentified.

Unidentified, might be an older hybrid

Another unidentified

This might be Mary Anne

I think this is San Remo, can anyone verify or suggest another name?

White Rain

Best Diamond aka The Diamond, and other names

Absolutely beautiful, Russ. I see a few more I'd love to have. I'll send you an email. (Shirley)

No worries Shirley!

Russ

Thanks for sharing these photographs Russ!
Fred

Resurrecting this old thread... Those photos are gorgeous; I especially like 'Illumination', 'Deborah', and 'Shades'/'Black Beauty'. Does anyone have any suggestions for locating the more uncommon Ags? I've lucked into a few of the Thai varieties on Ebay from US sellers (I'm nervous about shipping from Thailand), but there are a huge number of varieties patented in the US that I can find in wholesaler lists but not from any online retailers. And the local big box stores seem to only deal in 'Emerald Bay' and a few of the other more common ones. Are there retailers I'm missing, or do I need to make friends with an interiorscaper?

These ags are beautiful. If anyone wants to spread the heirloom varieties, I am very interested. I also collect monsteras and philodendron...I guess plants of a feather...or something like that anyway ;)

laticauda, cliss, and all---

Below is my ag list. Many are available for postage, but not all. Email me with your want list.

AGLAONEMAS

As of December 2014

Russ Hammer

bluesea14808@yahoo.com

* indicates an old heirloom aglaonema, or a species

Abidjan*

alumina v. armandii* (commercially Sterling)

B.J. Freeman aka Cecelia*

Black Lance

brevispathum*

Brilliant

Calypso

Cassandra

commutatum v. commutatum f. Elegans*

comm. v. comm. variegata*

costatum v. semi-albovariegatum* (sold as Best Diamond)

Cory

crispum*

Cutlass

Deborah

Decora

Diamond Bay

Gemini ?

Gold Dust

Green Lady

Illumination

Jewel of India

Jubilee

Jubilee Petite

Key Largo

Malay Beauty/Pewter*

Tricolor X Manila*, pink petiole (probably Nat DeLeon hybrid, circa 1960-70)

Tricolor X Manila* russet petiole (probably Nat DeLeon hybrid, circa 1960-70)

modestum*

modestum variegata*

Moe Moe*

Moonglow*

Moonlight Bay

Mystic Marble

Painted Princess

Patricia

Peacock

pseudobracteatum*

Shamrock

Silver Frost

Silver Bay

Silverado

Silver King*

Stripes

Snowcap

White Rain

White Lance

Queen of Siam seedling, Dr. Brown (same as Diamond Bay)

Shades/Black Beauty

THAI HYBRIDS

Gem Series #5

Emerald Holiday

Kaew Kanjani

Red Valentine

Siam Pearl/Masterpiece

UNIDENTIFIED

'Frog'* - Dr. Brown also had this little species when I visited, this was his name. He used it in some of his aglaonema crosses. Unsure of my source, recollection is from Glasshouse Works, Corning Ohio several decades ago, with the name Echo.

Unknown, my code: from Marc's Drug Store, Ohio*

Unknown, Christian, Daytona Beach

Unknown, my code: Ag 1 possibly Amelia

Unknown, my code Ag 100 - white petioles

Unknown, probably San Remo*

Jungle Collected, from Dr B. Frank Brown

Unknown, my code #5 of 16, from Dr B. Frank Brown

Ugh, just when I think my list is finished....i like A. modestum. *swoon*

Modestum or the variegated form? Modestum is a species that I suppose goes back to the beginning of time, in cultivation by the Chinese for hundreds of years. Long known as THE Chinese Evergreen, then became sort of the generic term for all aglaonemas.

Where have you seen A. modestum? Just curious. I'd have to find the all-green form, hopefully I have it somewhere. I do have the variegated one, I can see if I have an extra.

Here's one that has more variegation than most, older ones can get leggy and will need cutting back to keep somewhat compact.

Russ

That is quite a specimen there! I did mean the species and not the variegate, but they are both lovely. I saw A. modestum on your list and Googled the images. They also have pictures of the variegate but I didn't see that til just now when I regoogled.

I'll look for my non-variegated modestum later today, I'm sure it's out there somewhere. As far as I know, the variegated form is a natural one and not a man-made variant.

Russ

No worries if you can't find them/don't look for them lol :)

But I appreciate the effort if you get around to it.

Oh, and I'm somewhat of a serial pruner/pincher.

I need to know if I'm missing an ag when it's 'the one and only'. And I think I just had one modestum. So not a problem in going and finding it. I'm a serial propagator, hard to throw any piece of plant away.

Russ

OH I KNOW! it just feels like such a waste! That's why I have about 20 aloe babies and about 20 haworthia pups.(I haven't actually counted but i have a lot.) Let's not talk about when I groom the AVs or the peperomias. I think I have enough peperomias to place them in all of our bathroom's windows and maybe have some left over. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration.

Even just a little bit of the cane/stalk would probably do fine, if it's in need of a trim that is, of course. ;)

I realize it's probably not the most popular plant, but I really appreciate its history and heritage.

Wow, Russ. Did not realize how serious an aglaonema collector you are until I read through this thread. What a wonderful collection you have there. We'd love to see more pictures if possible. :)

I'll see what I can do next week, rockdale. I'll have to write down the ones I've already posted. I live for plants, horticulture. It's my therapy!! And I need therapy.

I'm mostly interested in ag species, and old, vintage ag hybrids from the 50s, 60s, 70s. These are all very hard to find. But I have quite a few of the newer, pretty hybrids, some of which were hybridized by the great Dr. B. Frank Brown who passed away recently. You'd be surprised how hard it is to find some of the new hybrids, which is odd considering they're grown for commercial sale. I see more pots of Silver Bay in stores than any other ag.

If you see any ags in my pics you especially like, it's likely that I have propagations I can send for postage.

just post away. We do not mind to look at them many times. But if it is too much trouble for you to get pictures and post (especially gw now seems having prob with pic uploading), we will understand too.

and thank you for the generous offer. I am sure there must be a lot of beauties in your collection that I am drooling for. But I want to make sure I am able to take good care of it before I ask. I am trying to reduce my inventory at this moment ( mostly gift out those more common type) so I can fit them all in when winter comes. I will definitely let you know once I done my research on the Ags you have. ( that's a quite long list:))

again, thank you

I'd like to get more activity, I'll bump this to the top and see what happens.

Russ

Hi Russ, do you have any of this variegated to share? It's beautiful! I'd love to add it to my plant collection.

hello russ, i'm a newbie to ag's, though i've been gardening most of my life. i only have a few, but i'm interested in adding more of the reds to my collection. can you recommend a good place to attain these? i know i can get a few from eBay via thailand, but i'm hoping to find a less expensive source! any help or advice you have would be very appreciated! btw, your plants are incredible! are there any other posts with more pics of your extensive collection?

Hi Kimberly, good to know you. I can't think of any threads other than this one where I've posted pics of so many of my ags.

By 'adding more of the reds', you are talking about some of the Thai and Indonesian hybrids and possibly some from India. I've collected most of them available in stores in my area, but I haven't ordered from non-US sources. I've been searching for old, vintage hybrids and species for decades, but I've picked up many of the newer hybrids because of their leaf colors and patterns.

The smaller, beautifully colored ags you're speaking of came originally from hybridizers working with A. rotundum, a reddish-colored species that is extremely hard to grow. So some of the first red hybrids were difficult and didn't make good marketable plants. But over the years that trait was mostly bred out of the hybrids and they're fairly easy to grow now if you have enough humidity. They are a bit more touchy than the multitude of newer hybrids bred without rotundum background, these ags are usually larger and have beautiful patterns in shades of green, silver, gray, white, cream and yellow. They can also have white or pink petioles.

Do you have a list of the ags you have? If some are unidentified, I might be able to name them if you'll post some pics. Email me at bluesea14808@yahoo.com and I'll help you with plants.

Russ

Russ...I found one you might not have....might is the key word!

https://www.amazon.com/Super-White-Everrgreen-Aglaonema-Suculent/dp/B01H8N6PXW/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&qid=1478460259&sr=8-34&keywords=chinese+evergreen+plant

There are a lot of aglaonemas I don't have, Debra, and this is one. Hybridizers in Thailand, Indonesia and to some extent India, have produced literally hundreds of beautiful ags, but shipping from those countries is very expensive. While I collect all ags, I'm primarily looking for species and old, vintage hybrids from the 1960s and 1970s.

Russ

Oh wow, in no way did I mean to purchase it..the price is way too high....Ok, I'll keep that in mind when plant shopping..easy to remember since I'm from the 60's! Lol!

Debra, I look through the Thai aglaonema websites and am amazed by the bright in-your-face colors. Entire leaves of bright, fire engine red, pinks of all shades... wow. One could never collect all of them, there are so many with new ones being introduced at an astounding rate.

Russ

They sound amazing. I'm partial to pink..I just bought one on Amazon...'Silver Bay'.

Debra, Silver Bay is a good one. It became available to the public in the late 90s, is very easy to grow and the most popular and widely distributed of the many newer hybrids on the market now. Silver King and Silver Queen were the most widely grown of the older, vintage hybrids, they go back to the early 1960s and are still grown by many wholesalers.

Russ

Just to be clear...because my last Ag croaked. No direct sun, low to med light. water when dry. sound good?