Marantaceae - Botanical Family

Goeppertia picturata, commonly known as silver variegated calathea, is a tropical evergreen perennial in the Marantaceae family, native to northwestern Brazil. Formerly known as Calathea picturata, it is still frequently sold under that older name in the houseplant trade. The species forms compact clumps of broad, oval to elliptic leaves with deep purple to burgundy undersides. Typical foliage has a pale green to silvery central area surrounded by a broad dark green margin, creating a bold two-tone pattern. Cultivated selections vary considerably in the proportions and intensity of these colors, and several forms are grown primarily for their decorative foliage.

Goeppertia picturata prefers bright filtered light, warm temperatures, high humidity, and loose, organic-rich, well-drained soil. Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, and avoid prolonged drying or harsh direct sun, which can damage the leaves. It is well suited to containers and is now grown mainly as a houseplant in temperate regions. Frost sensitive, Goeppertia picturata is suitable outdoors in USDA Zones 10b-11 and should be protected from cold.

Indoors, Calathea is tolerant of lower light conditions making it a fine houseplant. Your soil for Calathea should be highly organic and well drained. Use plenty of coarse material in the soil mix to help water flow through. Never allow roots to be soaked with standing water but they do enjoy continuous availability of water in their soil. Keep your Calathea roseopicta on a pebble tray to increase the humidity level near your plant, but do not allow your plant to sit in water. Calathea's prefer a warm location, away from cold drafts. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. If the water in your area is extremely hard, or of poor quality, water your plants with bottled water. Hard water will cause leaf spotting. If you're fortunate enough to have soft water, let the water sit out over night before watering your plants. If you have an aquarium, your can recycle the tank water, for watering your plants. In USDA zones below 11, grow as a houseplant or seasonal container specimen.

Goeppertia is a large genus of tropical perennial plants in the Marantaceae family, native to the tropical Americas and especially diverse in South America. Many species formerly classified in Calathea were transferred to Goeppertia after botanical studies led to a major reorganization of the group. The older name Calathea remains deeply established in horticulture, however, and plants belonging to Goeppertia are still commonly sold and labeled as calatheas, sometimes creating confusion between the two genera. Goeppertia species are prized for their decorative foliage, often patterned with contrasting stripes, spots, feather-like markings, or silvery areas, while many have purple or burgundy leaf undersides. Numerous cultivars have been selected specifically for indoor growing.

Goeppertia grows best in warm, humid conditions with bright filtered light and loose, organic-rich, well-drained soil. Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, and protect plants from harsh direct sun and prolonged drying. Many species respond to changes in light by raising or lowering their leaves. These frost-sensitive tropicals are generally suitable outdoors in USDA Zones 10b-11 and are much more widely grown as container and houseplants in cooler climates.

Goeppertia 'Flamestar', formerly widely sold as Calathea 'Flamestar', is a striking foliage cultivar of uncertain species affiliation. Its broad oval leaves have a deep green background with a large feathered pattern of bright lime to yellow-green markings extending outward from the midrib along the lateral veins. Numerous fine green bands create a softly striped effect within this central field, while a second broken arc of paler markings follows the outer part of the blade, leaving a broad dark green margin. The layered pattern gives the foliage a luminous, almost painted appearance. Although 'Flamestar' is frequently marketed as Calathea veitchiana 'Flamestar', this species attribution is not securely documented, and the cultivar is best treated simply as Goeppertia 'Flamestar' without assignment to a particular species.

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.

Learn more about this plant:

Calathea Zebrina: Nature's Zebra Striped Star

How to grow Calathea indoors.

Maranta leuconeura is a small tropical plant with broad oval leaves, up to 8 inches long by half as wide. The leaves fold upwards at night, hence the common name. Maranta leuconeura need full shade and warm temperatures. Water regularly; do not overwater.

Marantochloa mannii is a tropical understory plant native to Central and West Africa, known for its broad, glossy green leaves and clumping growth habit. It thrives in warm, humid environments with filtered light and moist, well-drained soil. Best suited for greenhouse culture or indoor growing in USDA Zones 11 and above.

This plant has been called Wheat Calathea for its inflorescence, which is reminiscent of Wheat and carries small purple flowers.

Pleiostachya pruinosa is a shade-loving tropical plant from Central and South America, recognized for its upright growth and powdery, bluish-green foliage with a silvery sheen. It prefers warm, humid conditions, rich moist soil, and protection from direct sun. Ideal for USDA Zone 11 or as an ornamental foliage plant in indoor or greenhouse settings.