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Maranta leuconeura

Previously known as:

  • Maranta kerchoveana
  • Maranta leuconeura var. erythroneura
Phonetic Spelling
muh-RAN-tuh loo-koh-NUR-uh
Description

An evergreen tropical plant is commonly grown as a houseplant in temperate climates. The Prayer Plant has variegated ovate leaves with entire margins that fold at night to resemble praying hands.  The undersides of the leaves are gray-green to purple-green. New leaves appear as a rolled tube.  Place in bright, indirect light, as too much sun will bleach out the attractive leaves colors. Keep potting soil evenly moist throughout the growing season but hold back to allow the soil to dry out in the winter months. Place this plant in a humidified room or standing pot in a tray of wet pebbles as it requires high humidity. Propagate by rhizomatous division.

This plant blooms under ideal conditions, but the flowers are small and not very effective. This plant is desired for its interesting, patterned foliage. The prominent red fishbone-patterned veins, pale central variegation, and pale underside are characteristic of this plant. By day, leaves are held parallel to the ground and move to a perpendicular 'prayer' position at night. Leaf upper and undersides lose color in low light and fertility situations. This plant is commonly used in interiors as hanging baskets and as ground cover in interiorscapes. This plant tolerates low to medium light. It is intolerant of direct sunlight or low humidity. It is also intolerant of low temperatures or cold drafts. Leaf burns with high fluorides and with over-fertilization. This plant has no serious pest or disease problems.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Rabbit track-like dark spots on each side midrib
  • Leaves raised to 'prayer' position at night
  • Leaf underside is light grey-green
  • Low-growing with oblong leaves and truncate apex
  • Leaf is oblong-elliptic with red fishbone-pattern veins
  • Leaf underside is usually red/purple
  • Variegation down midrib is light green to yellow

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious insect or disease problems but occasional spider mites and mealybugs. Root rot may occur with poorly drained soils.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Fascinator Tricolor'
    dark green leaves, light green margins, rib veins red, center yellow
  • 'Lemon' or Lemon Lime Prayer Plant
    dark green leaf with yellowish-green center and striping
  • 'Silver Band'
    dark green leaf but the center of the leaf has a broad patch of silver green
  • var. erythroneura or Green Maranta
    olive green leaves with red midrib, red veins, yellowish-greenish marking at the red midrib, and the underside is reddish purple
  • var. erythrophylla or Red Tri-Colored Maranta
    has red veins
  • var. kerchoveana or Rabbit's Tracks Maranta
    green leaves with two rows of dark blotches
  • var. massangeana or Black Maranta
    dark leaf with silver blotches at the midrib and white veins
'Fascinator Tricolor', 'Lemon' or Lemon Lime Prayer Plant, 'Silver Band', var. erythroneura or Green Maranta, var. erythrophylla or Red Tri-Colored Maranta, var. kerchoveana or Rabbit's Tracks Maranta, var. massangeana or Black Maranta
Tags:
#evergreen#houseplant#showy leaves#interiorscape#variegated#fantz
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Fascinator Tricolor'
    dark green leaves, light green margins, rib veins red, center yellow
  • 'Lemon' or Lemon Lime Prayer Plant
    dark green leaf with yellowish-green center and striping
  • 'Silver Band'
    dark green leaf but the center of the leaf has a broad patch of silver green
  • var. erythroneura or Green Maranta
    olive green leaves with red midrib, red veins, yellowish-greenish marking at the red midrib, and the underside is reddish purple
  • var. erythrophylla or Red Tri-Colored Maranta
    has red veins
  • var. kerchoveana or Rabbit's Tracks Maranta
    green leaves with two rows of dark blotches
  • var. massangeana or Black Maranta
    dark leaf with silver blotches at the midrib and white veins
'Fascinator Tricolor', 'Lemon' or Lemon Lime Prayer Plant, 'Silver Band', var. erythroneura or Green Maranta, var. erythrophylla or Red Tri-Colored Maranta, var. kerchoveana or Rabbit's Tracks Maranta, var. massangeana or Black Maranta
Tags:
#evergreen#houseplant#showy leaves#interiorscape#variegated#fantz
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Maranta
    Species:
    leuconeura
    Family:
    Marantaceae
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Brazil
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Houseplant
    Perennial
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    11a, 11b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Rarely flowers indoors but flowers are small, have 2-5 petals, are white to purple or spotted purple, zygomorphic, two-lipped, and appear on slender stalks. The corolla tube is green, sepals are thin, bracts are persistent and papery, and staminodes are petaloid. Inflorescence is a stalked panicle on the axillary.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Variegated
    White
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are alternate, crowded, simple, oblong-elliptic, have an apex truncate with a short sharp acumen, have a rotund base, are entire, have an upper side that is medium to dark green and variegated with pale green to yellow markings at the midrib, have central and main veins that are prominent in a fishbone pattern and are colored red, have pale green margins, and have an underside that is reddish to burgundy in color. Leaves exhibit sleep movement and are erect at night. They also have a long, sheathing petiole.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are short and rhizomatous.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heat
    Humidity