Calathea (Calathea spp.)

Calathea Plant Features

A bold and beautiful houseplant, calathea looks good even without flowers. There are lots of varieties of calathea, but one of the most common has luscious, dark green leaves that have scalloped edges and silver brushmarks on the top of the leaves. Underneath, the leaves are a lovely shade of burgundy purple. Each one is a living work of art!

Calathea's fancy foliage makes smaller specimens excellent picks for tabletops; as the plants grow (eventually, they can get up to about 3 feet or so, but they are slow growers) they're fantastic floor plants or on low plant stands.

Note: Many calathea species (and their hybrids) have been reclassified to the genus Goeppertia.

Calathea Questions?
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Calathea Growing Instructions

Grow calathea in medium to low light. This beautiful tropical doesn't like much sun on its leaves, so shield it from direct light to prevent sunburn. Water calathea enough to keep it moist, but not wet or saturated. This isn't a drought-tolerant houseplant, but it is relatively forgiving if you forget to water it from time to time. Extended periods of dryness can result in brown leaf tips or edges.

Like many tropical indoor plants, calathea prefers a spot with low to medium light and abundant humidity. If the air is too dry or the plant dries out too frequently, the leaf edges may turn brown and crispy.

Calathea is not recommended for human or animal consumption.

Water

Medium water needs
Light

Indoors: Low light

Indoors: Medium light
Colors

Green

Pink

Purple

Red

Variegated
Special Features

Purifies the air

Complement your Calathea

Madagascar Dragon Tree
Complement calathea's beautiful leaves with the spikey look of a young Madagascar dragon tree.

Colorful Aglaonema
Red aglaonema's variegated foliage is an ideal accent to calathea.

Flame Violet
Flame violet, a unique variety in the Exotic Angel® Plants collection, loves high humidity and the same light as gorgeous calathea.

Our favorite varieties

Corona

Goeppertia roseopicta 'Corona'

Bearing big gray-green leaves, Corona features dark green edges and reddish-purple stems. Costa Farms no longer grows this variety. Note: It was formerly known as Calathea roseopicta 'Corona'.

Freddie

Goeppertia 'Freddie'

Freddie offers long, narrow leaves that are light green in color. Feathery, dark-green veins provide a fun textural accent. Note: It was formerly classified as Calathea 'Freddie'.

Medallion

Goeppertia roseopicta 'Medallion'

A classic variety, Medallion foliage is like a living party! The dark green leaves are flushed and banded with silver and emerald green. The backs of the leaves are dark purple, adding to the excitement. Note: It was formerly classified as Calathea roseopicta 'Medallion'.

Round-Leaf Calathea

Goeppertia orbifolia

If other calathea varieties are too much for you, try this one. It shows off medium green leaves striped just a couple of shades darker. It's elegant and stunning with any other houseplant. Note: It was formerly classified under the botanical name Calathea orbifolia.

Pinstripe

Goeppertia ornata

Another calathea with feathery leaves, this one shows off long, narrow dark green foliage striped in hot pink. It was formerly classified as Calathea ornata.

Dottie

Goeppertia roseopicta 'Dottie'

Dottie is an outstanding calathea that features rich, black-purple leaves highlighted with hot pink variegation. It typically grows about 12 inches tall and wide. Note: It was formerly known as Calathea roseopicta 'Dottie'.

Misto

Goeppertia 'Misto'

Misto Calathea is an elegant hybrid that features mid-green leaves feathered with light-green variegation in the center. Note: It was formerly classified as Calathea 'Misto'.

Peacock Calathea

Goeppertia makoyana

Peacock calathea shows off dark green leaves with light green feathering, giving it something of a stained glass appearance. The foliage is purple on the bottom, adding to the look! Note: It was formerly classified as Calathea makoyana.

Beauty Star

Goeppertia 'Beauty Star'

This striking calathea hybrid is a showstopper! It bears dark green leaves with bright green feathering and bright pink stripes. Note: It was formerly known as Calathea 'Beauty Star'.

Rattlesnake Plant

Goeppertia insignis

Rattlesnake plant bears long, narrow mid-green leaves edged and spotted in dark green. The undersides of the leaves are a rich purple-red. It has a smaller stature than other varieties. Note: It was formerly classified under the botanical name Calathea lancifolia.

Network

Goeppertia kegeljanii 'PP0005'

Network calathea is a new, patented variety of C. musaica that features more strongly variegated leaves than the species and a fuller, bushier plant shape. It's exclusively available in North America from Costa Farms. Note: It was formerly classified as Calathea musaica 'PP0005'.