Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Herbs
  
Origin
Central America, South America
  
China, Japan, Korea
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Subtropical forests
  
gardens, Grassland, Homesteads, Open areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
9-4
  
Sunset Zone
H2
  
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Not Available
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
Not Available
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Not Available
  
Green, Light Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Not Available
  
Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Not Available
  
Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Ovate elongated
  
Round
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Growth Rate
Not Available
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Not Available
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Poorly Drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Early Spring, Late Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
Not Available
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, root cutting, Root Division
  
Divison, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season, Sprinkle water over foliage
  
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Keep ground moist, Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Over-head watering, Requires watering in the growing season
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Not Available
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Poorly Drained
  
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning, Shape and thin as needed
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Mealy bugs, Spider mites
  
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Wet Site
  
Flowers
Not Available
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Not Available
  
No
  
Attracts
Ants, Aphids, Hummingbirds, Mealybugs, Spider Mites
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes, Used as an interior landscaping species
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Antioxidants, Antiviral
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Root
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Air freshner, Container, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Not Available
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical
  
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
CALATHEA ornata
  
PETASITES japonicus 'Variegatus'
  
Common Name
Prayer Plant
  
Giant Butterbur, Japanese Butterbur, Variegated Butterbur
  
In Hindi
Prayer plant
  
variegated butterbur
  
In German
Maranta leuconeura
  
bunte Pestwurz
  
In French
Prayer plant
  
pétasite panachée
  
In Spanish
maranta leuconeura
  
butterbur abigarrado
  
In Greek
Prayer Plant
  
διαφοροποιημένα butterbur
  
In Portuguese
Маранта
  
butterbur variegada
  
In Polish
Prayer plant
  
barwny Lepiężnik
  
In Latin
Prayer plant
  
varius butterbur
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Vascular plant
  
Not Available
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Zingiberales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Marantaceae
  
Asteraceae
  
Genus
Calathea
  
Petasites
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Applicable
  
Senecioneae
  
Subfamily
Not Applicable
  
Not Available