Ctenanthe oppenheimiana 'Tricolor'

RHS Plant Profile

never-never plant

RHS 2003

Synonyms

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana var. tricolor

Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

Vigorous, bushy evergreen perennial about 1m tall, with lance-shaped, leathery leaves with irregular creamy-white and pale and dark green markings, wine-red beneath. Produces spikes of white flowers randomly through the year

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1B

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Marantaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Ctenanthe are bushy evergreen perennials grown for their usually strikingly patterned, lance-shape to obovate leaves; irregular and usually inconspicuous tubular white or yellow flowers are borne in short racemes intermittently throughout the year
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow indoors in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost (JI No.2) in bright, indirect light. Water freely and apply a general liquid fertiliser monthly from spring to summer. Provide high humidity by placing the container on a tray of moist gravel. Water to keep compost moist in winter, and keep draught-free at a constant temperature. Repot annually in late spring or early summer. See houseplant cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 19 to 24°C in spring as soon as ripe, or by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Sub-tropical
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free