A tropical, evergreen, clump-forming perennial, grown as a foliage houseplant, with velvety, wavy and rippled pale and darker green leaves, dark burgundy-red underneath. Like other Calatheas, this plant exhibits 'nyctinasty', meaning its leaves fold upwards at night and spread out again in the morning
0.5-1 metres
0.5-1 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
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
Propagate by division of clumps in late spring
No pruning required
May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite
Generally disease-free, but sun or overly bright light may cause leaf scorch and dry air may turn leaf edges brittle and brown