Overview
Maranta spp. is a genus of about 40 to 50 evergreen, rhizomatous perennials in the family Marantaceae, native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, with the greatest diversity in Brazil. Plants form low, spreading clumps generally 12–24 in (30–60 cm) tall from fleshy underground rhizomes. The broad, oval leaves are the main feature, often patterned with bands, blotches, or coloured veins in green, cream, silver, and red; M. leuconeura is the widely grown prayer plant. Leaves fold upward at night and reopen by day, a movement called nyctinasty that gives the group its common name. Small, three-petalled white to pale-purple flowers appear on slender stalks and are short-lived. M. arundinacea is cultivated across the tropics for arrowroot, a powdery starch extracted from its rhizomes. As understory plants, Maranta spp. grow in warm shade with steady humidity and are intolerant of cold, drought, and direct midday sun. Frost kills them outright, so outside the tropics they are grown as houseplants or under glass. Dry air and hard water cause leaf-edge browning.
Native Range
Maranta spp. is native to tropical Central and South America, ranging from Mexico and the West Indies south through Brazil. The center of diversity lies in the rainforests of Brazil.Suggested Uses
Grown as houseplants, in terrariums, and as shade groundcover or understory plants in frost-free tropical gardens. M. leuconeura is a common low-light container plant for homes and offices. M. arundinacea is cultivated for edible arrowroot starch.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to pale purpleFoliage Description
green with cream, silver, or red bandingGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-5 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Maranta spp. grow in warm, bright shade away from direct midday sun, which scorches the leaves. They need consistently moist but not waterlogged soil rich in organic matter, and humidity above 50 percent. Average room temperatures suit them, with cold below about 55°F (13°C) causing damage. Water with rainwater or filtered water, since fluoride and hard water brown the leaf margins. Feed lightly through spring and summer, and reduce water in winter when growth slows. Plants spread steadily and can be divided at the rhizome.Pruning
Pruning is limited to removing yellowed or browned leaves at the base through the year. Leggy clumps can be cut back to encourage fresh basal growth. Division of the rhizomes in spring renews vigour and propagates new plants.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons