Ctenanthe amabilis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Stromanthe amabilis
- Phonetic Spelling
- te-NANTH-ee a-MAH-bih-liss
- Description
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An indoor evergreen South American perennial plant that grows up to 3' and likes warm, sheltered, shady locations. Desired for its interesting, patterned, erect foliage; the pattern resembles that of a wheat tuft; it can be identified by its truncate leaves and the green wheat pattern on the silver-gray-green, long-petioled leaf.
Quick ID
- Leaves are oblong and flattened at apex (truncate)
- Underside of leaf is purple
- Pattern is dark on light green, resembles wheat
- Every other dark band extends into margin
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ctenanthe
- Species:
- amabilis
- Family:
- Marantaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Brazil
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Perennial
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Cultural Conditions:
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Raceme
- Flower Description:
- Inflorescence (rare in cultivation)is a raceme with leathery bracts subtending stalked, bracteolate cymules. Flowers are white, small, fleshy.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are crowded, in basal rosettes, oblong-elliptic, apex truncate with short sharp acumen, base rotund. They are entire, upper side silver-gray with alternating short and long bands of dark green in the direction of the veins; the long dark green bands extend into the margin. The underside is purple; petiole long, sheathing.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are short and rhizomatous.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Houseplants
