Ctenanthe oppenheimiana
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- tee-NANTH-ee o-pen-hiem-ee-AY-na
- Description
-
A colorful tropical houseplant with showy leaves. Plant in a window with indirect light or light shade.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaf pattern is distinct, light green on dark green
- Stems are unbranched; petiole length lends height
- Leaf underside is purple-red
- Light stripes are even, forked toward the mid-vein
Evergreen indoor shrub to 15", broad spreading.
Desired for bushy, leathery foliage; all height is due to petiole length, no branching.
Difficult to grow. Intolerant of direct sunlight; intolerant of temperatures less than 60 degrees F; intolerant of cold drafts; intolerant of cold or hard water; intolerant of constantly dry air; intolerant of fertilization directly after repotting; prefers medium light, high humidity, and moist medium.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Tricolor'
Red, white and green leaves, blotched cream in addition to normal patterning (almost looks like sun damage).
- 'Tricolor'
- 'Tricolor'
- Tags:


- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Tricolor'
Red, white and green leaves, blotched cream in addition to normal patterning (almost looks like sun damage).
- 'Tricolor'
- 'Tricolor'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ctenanthe
- Species:
- oppenheimiana
- Family:
- Marantaceae
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10b, 11b, 11a, 12a, 12b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Description:
- (usually not seen in cultivation) white to yellow.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- In basal rosette, simple, lanceolate, acute, cuneate, entire, green with silver white markings in direction of veins above, purple-red beneath, coriaceous.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Rhizomatous
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants