Goeppertia roseopicta 'Surprise Star'

RHS Plant Profile

rose-painted calathea 'Surprise Star'

Synonyms

Calathea roseopicta 'Surprise Star'

Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

A tender, upright, clump-forming perennial with thick dark green to dark maroon foliage with a pink border and middle vein. Small pink and white flowers sometimes appear in summer

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam

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

Position

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: Goeppertia are evergreen rhizomatous perennials forming clumps of elliptic leaves, often attractively-patterned; racemes of small tubular flowers are seldom produced in cultivation. Previously included within the genus Calathea
Name Status: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in peat-free potting compost with bright indirect or filtered light. Provide high humidity, draught-free conditions and a constant temperature of at least 16°C. Water moderately when in growth and keep just moist in winter. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly

Propagation

Propagate by division in late spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Low Maintenance
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free