Calathea picturataPainted Calathea

Foliage does the work with Calathea picturata, the Painted Calathea, a compact Brazilian perennial whose oval leaves carry a broad silver centre bounded by a dark green margin, with purple-flushed undersides. Leaves rise and fall on a daily rhythm, folding upward as the light drops.

It is used in interior landscaping and in shaded courtyard beds, where a low, patterned mass is wanted under taller planting.

Specifications

• Height0.4 to 0.6 metres
• Width0.4 to 0.6 metres
• Native toNorthwestern Brazil
• FoliageOval leaves with a broad silver centre, dark green margins and purple-flushed undersides; evergreen
• Growth rateModerate

Conditions

• SoilPrefers open, moisture-retentive, organic-rich media
• LightPartial to full shade, or bright indirect light under cover
• WaterModerate to high; keep evenly moist and avoid drying out
• ClimateThrives in warm humid tropical conditions and is used indoors elsewhere

Additional Features

• FormCompact clumping rosette that spreads slowly from the base
• UsesIdeal for interior landscaping, planters and shaded courtyard mass planting
• SpacingPlant 0.3 to 0.4 metres apart for a closed ground layer
• Low MaintenanceRemove spent leaves; avoid hard water, which marks the foliage
• Pest ResistanceGenerally trouble-free; monitor for spider mite where air is dry
• VersatilityEqually suited to interior planters and sheltered outdoor understorey beds

The Painted Calathea is a foliage plant first and last, and it holds a shaded bed together with pattern rather than flower.