Calathea 'Elger Grass'

RHS Plant Profile
calathea 'Elger Grass'

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Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

A tropical, evergreen, clump-forming perennial, grown as a foliage houseplant. Long, slender and leathery dark green leaves, purple beneath, have distinctive wavy edges, During the day the leaves are held out; at night they move to an upright position, showing the purple undersides

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 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

Full shade Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or West–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)
H1A

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Marantaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Calathea are evergreen rhizomatous perennials forming clumps of elliptic leaves, often attractively patterned; spikes of small flowers are seldom produced in cultivation
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow indoors in a peat-free houseplant compost with added perlite, in bright, indirect light. Water to keep the compost moist but not soggy, and apply a general liquid fertiliser monthly from spring to autumn. Provide high humidity by placing the container on a tray of moist gravel or pebbles. Reduce watering to a minimum in winter, and keep above 15°C. See Calathea cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by division of clumps in late spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Houseplants
  • Sub-tropical
  • Bedding
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free, but sun or overly bright light may cause leaf scorch and dry air may turn leaf edges brittle and brown