Join

Find a plant – quick search

Where are Plant Finder & Plant Selector?

Where are Plant Finder & Plant Selector?

We have combined these two powerful search tools into a single Find a Plant service searching over 250,000 plant records.

Virtually all of the features of the old searches are still available and in addition we have added several new features to create a more comprehensive and user friendly search experience.

When using this search

  • If you enter just a plant name, you will see results from the old RHS Plant Finder and Selector databases
  • If you select any attributes with or without a plant name, you will see a much narrower selection of results taken only from the old RHS Plant Selector database. These plants will have a lot more details displayed including an image.
  • Our Botanical team are working hard to increase the number of plants with detailed information.

Search by plant name, key attributes or both to find plant details and a list of suppliers.

 
  • AGM plants

    AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

    • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
    • Available to buy
    • Of good constitution
    • Essentially stable in form & colour
    • Reasonably resistant to pests & diseases
Need more criteria? Try an advanced search

Calathea lancifolia

rattlesnake plant

rattlesnake plant

© RHS 2003

RHS Plant Shop from £14.99

  • Other common names rattlesnake plant

  • Synonyms Calathea insignis hort.

  • Family Marantaceae

  • Genus Calathea are evergreen rhizomatous perennials forming clumps of elliptic leaves, often attractively patterned; spikes of small flowers are seldom produced in cultivation

  • Details C. lancifolia is an evergreen perennial to 60cm, forming a clump with undulate, lance-shaped pale green leaves with dark patches either side of the midrib, deep purple beneath. Small yellow flowers appear in short spikes in summer

  • Plant range Brazil

Characteristics

  • Foliage Evergreen

  • Habit Clump-forming

  • 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

Sunlight

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect North-facing or East-facing or West-facing or South-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Clay

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Chalk

    Loam

  • MoistureWell-drained, Moist but well-drained

  • SoilClay, Chalk, Loam

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.5-1 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 5-10 years

How to grow

Cultivation Under glass grow in loam-based or loam-less 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 Low Maintenance Patio & Container Plants

How to care

Pruning No pruning required

Pests May be attacked by glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases Generally disease free

Advertise here

Did you find the information you were looking for?

RHS members can get exclusive individual advice from the RHS Gardening Advice team.

Join the RHS now

RHS Plants Shop

Calathea lancifolia

rattlesnake plant

Buy from £14.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £14.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Get involved

We're a UK charity established to share the best in gardening. We want to enrich everyone's life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.