Botanical family: Marantaceae

Calathea altissima, Goeppertia altissima

Calathea burle-marxii

Calathea burle-marxii (Ice Blue Calathea) is an attractive small shrub, native to Brazil, that can reach up to 2-5 feet in height. It boasts an array of ornamental foliage in silver and blue hues, as well as white, off-white, blue, lavender and purple flowers. Despite its tropical origin, this plant is hardy enough to thrive in zones 9-11 of the USDA plant hardiness scale.

This plant requires regular watering and should never be allowed to dry out between waterings. It performs best in shade or semi-shade, and will appreciate some kind of humidity system if kept in dry indoor conditions. Fertilize regularly with a water-soluble fertilizer to keep your Calathea looking its best.

For those living in a particularly cold climate, you may want to consider keeping your Calathea in a pot and bringing it indoors during winter. If you do need to overwinter your Calathea, make sure the pot it is in has good drainage and that you place it in a warm, lightly shaded area. Make sure not to overwater it during this time, as this could lead to root rot. Move the plant back outside during spring and summer.

Calathea crocata

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Close

Keep Calathea crocata (Eternal flame) out of cold temperatures, as frost will kill it. Grow in a pot and move it indoors during winter in colder climates to prevent frost damage. Calathea crocata is a small shrub, usually between 2-5 ft, and is hardy in USDA Zone 10-11. It is native to Brazil. The ideal temperature for the plant is 55 degrees F at minimum and 80 degrees F at maximum during the growing season. Fertilize bi-monthly with a half-strength dilution of a soluble liquid fertilizer during the summer season.

Water Calathea crocata regularly and more during the warmer summer months. The plant likes a moist soil, however, make sure that the soil does not become soggy. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between watering and water this small shrub liberally in the growing season. Cut back on water during the cooler winter months when the plant is dormant.

Calathea crocata is an eye-catching plant with long puckered ribbed leaves in an array of colors with maroon undersides. The plant produces orange and yellow flowers that resemble flames. Prune the plant lightly in early spring and again shortly after flowering. Spent flower stalks can be removed as the flowers fade.

Grown as a houseplant, Calathea crocata does best in bright, indirect light and high humidity. The days will be brighter with the addition of a Calathea crocata in any home or garden.

Calathea crotalifera

The unusual inflorescences are upright, shaped like a rattlesnake's rattle, up to 10 inches (25 cm) long, and consist of stacked leathery floral bracts with small, yellow or yellow-orange flowers peeking out at the edges. The relatively inconspicuous actual flowers are tubular and have 3 unequal lobes.

Calathea hybrid

Calathea hybrid is a low-growing ground cover, growing from 2ft in small shrubs up to 5ft in height. It grows best in a semi-shaded environment and needs to be kept in moist soil. Regular watering is essential to keep the soil moist and to let the plant thrive. With its ornamental foliage, this plant is sure to be the highlight of any garden, especially in USDA Zones 9-11.

In colder regions where the temperature drops below zero Celsius, Calathea hybrid must be grown in a pot. The pot should be placed in a location that receives light shade and be protected from strong winds. When planting in a pot, good drainage is essential and it is important to keep the soil moist - not soggy - and to water regularly. If temperatures dip below freezing, the pot should be brought indoors and kept in a bright, warm area. With the right care and attention, the Calathea hybrid will look striking and sure to impress both indoors and outdoors.

Calathea lietzei

Calathea loeseneri

This Brazilian Calathea is one of the very few with showy flowers. The large leaves are quite attractive and they remind of a peacock ginger (Kaempferia). The leaves are light green with a white midrib. The white/pinkish flowers are 3" produced on long stems. The blooms are very showy above the foliage. This is a rarely offered plant. Makes an excellent container plant for shady locations.

Calathea lutea

Calathea lutea can grow to a height of 2.5 m and produces cigar-shaped bracts. The paddle-shaped leaves have reflective silver undersides. The most common cultivar found locally produces brownish bracts.

Calathea makoyana, Maranta makoyana

Mostly grown in gardens for the handsomely patterned foliage. Calathea prefers moist, shady, jungle-like conditions in a garden and is also often grown as potted specimens. When it is used as a house plant, the leaves should be sprayed with water several times a week. Propagation is by root division. Water with soft water. Keep uniform high humidity and temperature. Look best when grouped with other foliage plants. Can be used in a bottle garden or terrarium. This plant requires very specific growing conditions in order to thrive. Place in a warm, shady position i.e. one that never receives direct or indirect sun. Feed with a liquid fertilizer every two weeks during Spring and Summer and once a month during Autumn and Winter. Stand on a tray filled with water and pebbles to increase humidity. Water plentifully. Never allow to dry out - keep the potting mixture moist at all times. Repot every Spring using a mix of two thirds potting mixture and one third leaf mould or peat. Once the plant has been potted on to a fifteen centimetre pot , it is only necessary to replace the top layer of soil.

See Article - How to grow Calathea indoors.

Calathea musaica

Its chartreuse leaves are characterized by an incredibly intricate web-like pattern of dark green lines that intersect at right angles, creating tiny rectangular sections.