15 Calathea and Prayer Plant Varieties
Few houseplants rival the living artwork of calatheas and prayer plants, whose patterned leaves move with the rhythm of the day. The many calathea varieties and their close relatives belong to the Marantaceae family, famous for folding their foliage upward at night. The fifteen plants below are grouped by type, with notes on their distinctive markings and care, so you can choose the patterns you love and keep them thriving. Because they share similar needs, building a collection is easy once you understand what the family wants, and the variety of colors and textures never stops surprising.
Popular Calathea Varieties
Calatheas, many now reclassified under the genus Goeppertia, are grown for their boldly patterned leaves. They love warmth, humidity, and bright, indirect light. Most prefer filtered or distilled water to keep their leaf edges from browning.
1. Calathea orbifolia
This variety displays large, round leaves striped in silvery green. Its broad foliage makes an elegant, understated statement. It appreciates steady humidity to keep the big leaves pristine. Its calm, silvery patterning works beautifully alongside more colorful varieties.
2. Calathea Medallion
Medallion has rounded leaves with a feathery green pattern and deep purple undersides. The contrast is striking when the leaves fold up at night. It is one of the most decorative calatheas available.
3. Calathea lancifolia
Known as the rattlesnake plant, it bears long, wavy leaves marked with alternating dark spots. The purple undersides add to the effect. Its upright, lively form suits a bright shelf.
4. Calathea makoyana
The peacock plant shows intricate feather-like patterning that resembles a peacock’s tail. Its thin leaves are translucent against the light. It rewards high humidity with vibrant markings.
5. Calathea ornata
Often called the pinstripe calathea, it carries dark leaves with fine pink or white stripes. The delicate lines look hand-painted. Bright, indirect light keeps the stripes crisp.
6. Calathea zebrina
The zebra plant features velvety leaves with bold green banding. Its soft, lush foliage adds rich texture. It prefers warmth and consistent moisture.
7. Calathea rufibarba
This velvet calathea has slender, wavy leaves with a soft, fuzzy underside. The leaves often show a reddish-purple reverse. Its unusual texture sets it apart from flatter-leaved types.
8. Calathea White Fusion
White Fusion is prized for its dramatic green, white, and purple variegation. It is a little fussier than others, demanding steady humidity. The reward is some of the most striking foliage in the family.
9. Calathea warscewiczii
This variety offers velvety, two-toned leaves with deep burgundy undersides. It can also produce small cone-shaped flowers. Its lush, upright habit makes a full, leafy display.
True Prayer Plants
The genus Maranta gives the whole group its common name, thanks to its pronounced nightly leaf movement. These low, spreading plants trail nicely from shelves and baskets. They enjoy warmth, humidity, and indirect light.
10. Maranta leuconeura Kerchoveana
The green prayer plant has soft leaves marked with paired dark blotches. Those spots give it the nickname rabbit tracks. It is one of the easier members of the family.
11. Maranta leuconeura Erythroneura
This herringbone plant dazzles with red veins running through deep green leaves. The vivid color makes it a favorite. It trails beautifully as it grows.
12. Maranta leuconeura Fascinator
Fascinator combines bright red veins with lighter green central markings. Its colorful foliage folds dramatically at night. It thrives in a warm, humid spot with filtered light.
Related Marantaceae
Several close relatives share the family’s patterned leaves and nightly movement. They expand the range of colors and forms you can grow. Their care closely mirrors that of calatheas.
13. Stromanthe Triostar
Triostar is famous for its pink, cream, and green variegation with rosy undersides. It brings vivid color rather than subtle patterning. Bright, indirect light helps maintain the pink tones.
14. Ctenanthe burle-marxii
The fishbone prayer plant shows a bold, herringbone pattern on silvery leaves. Its low, spreading growth fills a pot attractively. It is a little more forgiving than some calatheas.
15. Ctenanthe Grey Star
This variety offers long, upright leaves striped in silvery gray with maroon undersides. It forms an elegant, fountain-like clump. It enjoys the same warmth and humidity as its relatives, and its upright habit adds welcome height to a grouped display.
Quick Care Tips
The whole Marantaceae family shares a love of warmth, high humidity, and bright but indirect light, and they dislike direct sun that fades their patterns. Keep the soil lightly moist but never soggy, and use filtered, distilled, or rainwater if your tap water browns the leaf tips. A pebble tray, grouping, or humidifier helps recreate their tropical home, and the nightly folding of leaves is normal, not a sign of distress. Wipe the leaves gently now and then to keep the patterns bright, and use room-temperature water so you do not shock the roots. If leaf edges still brown despite your best efforts, it is usually a sign of dry air or mineral buildup rather than a serious problem.
Final Thoughts
Calatheas and prayer plants ask for a little more attention than the toughest houseplants, but their living, moving foliage makes the effort worthwhile. Start with a forgiving variety like a rattlesnake plant or a green prayer plant, dial in your humidity, and then explore the more dramatic patterns. Few collections feel as alive as a shelf of Marantaceae raising and lowering their leaves from day to night, a quiet daily performance that makes these plants endlessly rewarding to grow.