Life Span
Perennial
Biennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
Central America, South America
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Types
Maranta leuconeura
Yellow Birch, Paper Birch, River Birch
Number of Varieties
4040
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Subtropical forests
Hills, Moist Soils
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99994-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
9-1
Sunset Zone
H2
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
-
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
25.00 cm2,133.60 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate elongated
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
-
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
-
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, root cutting, Root Division
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season, Sprinkle water over foliage
Requires watering in the growing season, Water daily during growing season, Water Deeply, Water more frequently during periods of extreme drought
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
-
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove hanging branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize twice a year, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Mealy bugs, Spider mites
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Flowers
-
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Aphids, Hummingbirds, Mealybugs, Spider Mites
Ants, Aphids, Birds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes, Used as an interior landscaping species
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Antioxidants, Antiviral
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, Boils, bowel syndrome, Combats Stress, Diarrhea, Dysentry, Heart problems, Kidney Stones, Osteoarthritis, Skin Disorders, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Root
Bark, Leaves, Sap
Other Uses
Air freshner, Container, Used for its medicinal properties
Medicinal oil, Used as essential oil
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
CALATHEA ornata
BETULA nigra 'Studetec'
Common Name
Prayer Plant
Black Birch, River Birch, Tecumseh Compact River Birch
In Hindi
Prayer plant
काले बर्च वृक्ष
In German
Maranta leuconeura
Schwarze Birke
In French
Prayer plant
Noir Bouleau
In Spanish
maranta leuconeura
Negro del árbol de abedul
In Greek
Prayer Plant
Μαύρο Birch Tree
In Portuguese
Маранта
Bétula Preto
In Polish
Prayer plant
Czarny Brzoza
In Latin
Prayer plant
Niger Caerulus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Vascular plant
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Fagales
Family
Marantaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Calathea
Betula
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
30040
1
27800
👆🏻