Maranta leuconeura var. leuconeura 'Fascinator'
prayer plant 'Fascinator'
Clump-forming, tropical rainforest perennial, grown as a houseplant, to 30cm tall and wide, with elliptic to ovate dark green leaves, 12cm long, with bright red veins that fan from the midribs to the margins, and yellow-green markings along the midrib. Small tubular white flowers are produced intermittently through the year
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | White | Green Red Yellow | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | White | Green Red Yellow | ||
| Autumn | White | Green Red Yellow | ||
| Winter | White | Green Red Yellow |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H1ABotanical details
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Maranta are evergreen, rhizomatous perennials with blunt, broadly elliptic leaves often attractively marked or veined in contrasting colours; insignificant small white flowers are borne in racemes just above the foliage
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in a container in peat-free potting compost, in a well-lit position that does not get direct sunlight. Water to keep the compost damp but not wet during the summer months, then cut back a little in winter. They thrive in high humidity, so either grow it in a steamy room, group with other plants, or sit the pot on a tray of dampened shingle. See houseplant cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by division in spring or by basal softwood cuttings with bottom heat in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Houseplants
- Sub-tropical
- Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite
Diseases
Generally disease-free, roots may rot if plant is overwatered
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.