Goeppertia majestica
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Calathea majestica
- Maranta majestica
- Phonetic Spelling
- GO-per-sha ma-JES-te-ka
- Description
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Majestic prayer plant is a tropical evergreen and herbaceous perennial species native to the rainforests of Western South America to Brazil. Outside of its native area, the plant is usually grown indoors for its showy leaves and as a large specimen or atrium plant in high humidity. It is a member of the prayer plant family (Marantaceae). The specific epithet, majestica, is Latin for "majestic" and references the plants uniquely patterned leaves.
This plant prefers bright indirect light or partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. The plant thrives in organically rich soil or a potting mix typically used for African violets. It requires 60% humidity and to meet these needs consider placing the plant container on a bed of wet pebbles. Misting the foliage regularly or growing the plant in a humidified room would also be helpful.. It thrives in indoor temperatures between 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. During the growing season from April to August, water the plant regularly to keep the soil moist but not wet or soggy, and apply a balanced fertilizer each month. Reduce watering and fertilization in the winter when plant growth typically slows down. Use a clean damp cloth to remove dust that may accumulate on the leaves, since dust can inhibit photosynthesis. The best method of propagation is division of its rhizomatous roots in the late spring to early summer.
Grown as a houseplant the majestic prayer plant it will reach up to 3 feet tall and wide with an erect habit. The leaves are erect, simple, lanceolate to oblong with a pointed apex and has slender petioles. The young leaves are about 16 inches long and 6 inches wide and are green with white or pink thin lines or stripes along the lateral veins. The mature leaves can be larger and become uniformly green. The margins appear solid green and wavy while the undersides of the leaf are always purple. The flower is a compact spike about 4 inches long and nearly 3 inches wide. It has spirally arranged bracts of yellowish-green and encloses up to 8 pairs of tubular flowers that have an orangish-yellow corolla. The fruits are capsules containing 3 seeds.
This is a beautiful and show-stopping houseplant whose leaves appear to have been hand painted. Consider adding the majestic prayer plant as an accent to your home or office. This plant is one of the more common Goeppertia house plants that you can find.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious disease or pest problems; however, watch for aphids, scale, mealybugs and spider mites. Leaf spots may appear from wetting the foliage when watering, and plants will react to low humidity causing the leaves to roll or brown up. Direct sun can cause leaf scorch. This plant does not tolerate Iow humidity, wet soil, dry soil, low or inconsistent temperatures, cold drafts, direct sun, or low light.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Albolineata'
thin white stripes along lateral veins on the upper side of the leaf, the underside is purple. - 'Roseolineata'
dark green leaves with thin pink lines radiating from the mid that tend to turn white - 'Sanderiana'
dark green leaves with bright pink lines on the upper surface, the underside of the leaf is maroon - 'White Star'
green leaves that are streaked with pink and white stripes on the upper surface and purple beneath
- 'Albolineata'
- 'Albolineata', 'Roseolineata', 'Sanderiana', 'White Star'
- Tags:


- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Albolineata'
thin white stripes along lateral veins on the upper side of the leaf, the underside is purple. - 'Roseolineata'
dark green leaves with thin pink lines radiating from the mid that tend to turn white - 'Sanderiana'
dark green leaves with bright pink lines on the upper surface, the underside of the leaf is maroon - 'White Star'
green leaves that are streaked with pink and white stripes on the upper surface and purple beneath
- 'Albolineata'
- 'Albolineata', 'Roseolineata', 'Sanderiana', 'White Star'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Goeppertia
- Species:
- majestica
- Family:
- Marantaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western South America to Northern Brazil
- Distribution:
- Native: Bolivia, Brazil North, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, and Peru. Introduced: Venezuela
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a small 3-seeded capsule.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Blooming occurs from late spring to early summer. The flower is a compact spike about 4 inches long and nearly 3 inches wide. It has spirally arranged bracts of yellowish-green and encloses up to 8 pairs of tubular flowers that have an orangish-yellow corolla
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Obtuse
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are simple, erect, basal or crowded alternate, oblong to lanceolate with entire margins. The upper surface of young leaves is glossy dark green with white or pink lines along the lateral veins and dull red-purple on the undersides. Each leaf can measure up to about 16 inches long and 6 inches wide, and the petioles are sheathed at base. The mature leaves can measure up to 2 feet 8 inches long and 10 inches wide and become uniformly green. The margins appear solid green and wavy while the undersides of the leaf is always purple.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Short, erect aerial or rhizomatous.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity