Calathea

Meet the Calathea, the living art of the houseplant world! These tropical amigos come from the rainforests of South and Central America, mostly Brazil, and every leaf looks hand-painted with stripes, swirls or feathery patterns. There are dozens of types, and favorites include the orbifolia, makoyana (the Peacock Plant), lancifolia (Rattlesnake), ornata, roseopicta, White Star, Medallion, zebrina, Network (sold as musaica) and the fuzzy rufibarba. People love them for those patterned leaves, which fold up every evening and open again in the morning.

Browse our Calathea collection, or dive into our Calathea orbifolia guide and Peacock Plant guide.

  • Safe for pets and children
  • Repot once every 2 years
  • Fertilize once a month
  • Bright, indirect light
  • Requires frequent watering

Pick your perfect pattern!

Calathea Makoyana | Peacock Plant (S)
Calathea Makoyana | Peacock Plant (S)

Diana

2500
18 cm
10 cm
Calathea Medallion (M)
Calathea Medallion (M)

Pierce

3900
35 cm
15 cm
Calathea Medallion (S)
Calathea Medallion (S)

Pierce

2200
20 cm
10 cm
Calathea Makoyana | Peacock Plant (M)
Calathea Makoyana | Peacock Plant (M)

Diana

3800
28 cm
15 cm
Calathea Freddie (S)
Calathea Freddie (S)

Freddie

2200
30 cm
10 cm
Calathea Vittata (S)
Calathea Vittata (S)

Nico

1900
16 cm
10 cm
Calathea Warszewiczii | Calathea Zebrina (S)
Calathea Warszewiczii | Calathea Zebrina (S)

Bailey

3900
25 cm
10 cm
Calathea Beauty Star (S)
Calathea Beauty Star (S)

Haley

2200
22 cm
10 cm
Calathea Freddie (M)
Calathea Freddie (M)

Freddie

3600
30 cm
15 cm
Calathea Rufibarba (M)
Calathea Rufibarba (M)

Kali

3600
34 cm
15 cm
Calathea Roseopicta Silvia (S)
Calathea Roseopicta Silvia (S)

Silvia

1800
18 cm
10 cm
Calathea Roseopicta Black Dottie (M)
Calathea Roseopicta Black Dottie (M)

Camden

3200
28 cm
15 cm

About Calathea

Origin

Calatheas belong to the Marantaceae, the prayer-plant family, together with Maranta, Ctenanthe and Stromanthe. They grow wild on the shady, humid forest floor of tropical South and Central America, especially Brazil. In 2012 botanists moved most species to a new genus, Goeppertia, but shops and growers, us included, still call them Calathea. People often call them prayer plants because the leaves fold up at night, although the original prayer plant is their cousin Maranta.

Air Purifying

Calatheas weren't part of NASA's 1989 Clean Air Study, and no good research singles them out as air purifiers. Like any leafy plant, they release a little moisture into the air, which can make a dry Canadian winter feel a bit kinder. So is a Calathea good for your bedroom? Yes, it's pet-safe and happy there, as long as the room gets bright, indirect light and isn't too dry.

Toxicity

Good news: the ASPCA lists Calathea as non-toxic to cats and dogs, so these amigos are safe around pets and kids. A curious nibbler might still get a mild upset tummy, as with any plant that isn't meant to be eaten. Looking for more worry-free greenery? Find it in our pet-friendly plants.

Caring for Calathea

Watering

Calatheas like their soil lightly moist, so water when the top 2–3 cm (about an inch) has dried out. Never let them dry out completely or sit in soggy soil, and empty the saucer after watering. These amigos are sensitive to the minerals in hard tap water, so filtered, distilled or rainwater at room temperature helps prevent brown, crispy tips. Water a little less in fall and winter when growth slows.

Light and Placement

Medium to bright, indirect light is the sweet spot, like a few feet back from an east- or west-facing window, or right by a north-facing one. Direct sun fades those patterns and scorches the leaves, while a very dark corner slows growth. Keep them warm (18–27°C), away from cold drafts and heat vents, and aim for 50% humidity or more; a humidifier or pebble tray works much better than misting.

Nutrition

Feed once a month in spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength. Skip the snacks in fall and winter. Calatheas are sensitive to salt build-up, so more food isn't better, and a good flush with plenty of clean water every few months keeps the soil fresh.

Repotting

Repot every 1–2 years in spring, once roots fill the pot or poke out of the drainage holes. Choose a pot 1–2 inches larger and a light, airy mix with peat or coco coir and perlite. Handle the roots gently, as types like the orbifolia sulk after a rough repot, and use the moment to divide a big clump into new plants if you like.

Pruning and Flowering

Pruning is just tidying: snip yellow or brown leaves off at the base with clean, sharp scissors whenever you spot them. Most Calatheas rarely flower indoors and their small blooms are easy to miss, but a few, like the Eternal Flame (Calathea crocata), are grown just for their bright orange flowers. Once a flower stalk fades, cut it off at the base.

Calathea SOS

Illness

Brown, crispy edges point to dry air or hard tap water, curling leaves usually mean thirst, and yellow, droopy leaves mean the soil has stayed too wet. Spider mites love dry winter air, so check under the leaves for fine webbing and treat with insecticidal soap if you spot them. Keep this amigo away from cold windows in winter, since chilly drafts can damage the leaves overnight.

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