Goeppertia kegeljanii (Calathea Musaica)

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Goeppertia, Genus, spp., Multiple species,

Genus
Multiple species

calatheas

Marantaceae Tropical Central and South America

Container Friendly

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Goeppertia is a genus of about 250 evergreen, clump-forming perennials in the arrowroot family (Marantaceae), native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. Most of the plants grown as houseplants under the name calathea now belong here. They form clumps 0.3-1.5 m (1-5 ft) tall of large, long-stalked oval to lance-shaped leaves that are boldly patterned in shades of green, silver, and cream above and often flushed deep purple beneath. Like their relatives the prayer plants, the leaves rise and fold upward in the evening and open again by day, moved by a swollen joint at the top of each leaf stalk. Small flowers are carried in dense spikes or cone-like heads in white, yellow, orange, or purple, though many species rarely flower indoors. The plants grow on shaded, humid forest floors and are frost-tender, needing warmth, steady moisture, and high humidity. They are widely grown indoors and, in frost-free climates, as shade groundcover. Cold, dry air and direct sun scorch and curl the leaves.

Native Range

Goeppertia is native to the lowland and montane rainforests of tropical Central and South America, with the greatest diversity in the Amazon basin and the forests of Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador. Plants grow in the warm, humid, shaded understorey.

Suggested Uses

Goeppertia species are grown chiefly as foliage houseplants for their patterned leaves, and in warm, frost-free gardens as shade groundcover and understorey planting. They suit shaded patios, terrariums, and humid bathrooms indoors, and pair with ferns and other shade plants outside. The plants are non-toxic, which makes them suited to homes with pets.

How to Identify

Look for clumps of large, long-stalked leaves with bold green, silver, and cream patterning above and frequently purple undersides. The leaves fold upward at night and flatten by day, a movement driven by a thickened joint where the blade meets the stalk. The patterned, paired-rib leaves and clumping habit separate Goeppertia from the trailing prayer plants (Maranta) and from Stromanthe.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 5'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Flowers: May–July

Spring Summer

Flowering is irregular in cultivation and most likely in the warm months, when short spikes of small flowers push up among the leaves. A few species, such as the saffron-flowered G. crocata, bloom in stronger orange and are grown partly for the flowers. Indoors many plants seldom flower at all.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white, yellow, orange, or purple

Foliage Description

patterned green, silver, and cream above, often purple beneath

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Needs bright indirect light. Keep it out of direct sun, which can scorch the leaves.

• Bright indirect light: a bright spot near a window, with no direct sun on the leaves

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0 (Acidic to neutral)

3579

Soil Types

loam peat

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in part to full shade, or bright indirect light indoors, on moist, peaty, well-drained soil at a pH of 5.5-7.0. They need warmth above about 16 C (60 F), steady moisture, and high humidity, and react to dry air by browning at the leaf edges. Soft or distilled water suits them, as the leaves can scorch from the salts and fluoride in some tap water. They are frost-tender, hardy only in USDA zones 10 and 11, and are grown as houseplants elsewhere. Cold draughts, soggy soil, and direct sun all cause leaf damage.

Pruning

Damaged, yellowing, or brown-edged leaves are cut off at the base to keep plants tidy. No other routine pruning is needed. Crowded clumps are divided in spring as growth restarts, which also serves to propagate them.