Rattlesnake plant is a popular houseplant with long, wavy, pale green leaves marked by alternating large and small dark green blotches and purple undersides. It comes from the rainforests of southeastern Brazil; in the US it's grown mainly as a houseplant. Many shops still sell it under its old name, Calathea lancifolia.
Appearance
- Appearance
- A clumping, fountain-shaped plant about 1.5 ft (45 cm) tall indoors and up to about 2.5 ft (75 cm) outdoors.
- Leaves
- Lance-shaped leaves up to 18 in (45 cm) long with wavy edges. Dark oval blotches, alternating large and small, line both sides of the midrib; the undersides are purple to maroon.
- Flowers
- Outdoors, small light green to yellow tubular flowers appear in 2–4 in (5–10 cm) spikes in late spring to early summer. Indoors it rarely blooms.
- Fruit
- The fruit is a capsule.
Look-alikes
Peacock plantGoeppertia makoyana
Peacock plant has rounded leaves with dark green markings along the veins. Rattlesnake plant has long, narrow, lance-shaped leaves with wavy edges.
Why they get mixed upBoth are Goeppertia houseplants with pale green leaves, dark blotches, and purple undersides.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Tropical rainforest
- Indoor pots
- Range
- Native to southeastern Brazil, around the state of Rio de Janeiro. In the US it's mainly a houseplant; it has been introduced as an outdoor plant in Hawaii.
- Preferred conditions
- Likes bright shade or filtered light (not full sun), evenly moist but well-drained soil, and high humidity. Not frost hardy; outdoors only in 11–12.
Behavior
- Activity
- Like other prayer plants, it folds its leaves up at night and opens them again in the morning.
Growing it
- Care
- Keep it around 65–75°F (18–24°C), away from drafts. Brown, curling leaf tips usually mean the air is too dry; overwatering can cause root rot. Watch for spider mites, mealybugs, scale, and aphids.
- Propagation
- Easiest to propagate by division.
- Toxicity
- Listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.
Name and classification
- About the name
- It used to be called Calathea lancifolia or Calathea insignis. Botanists have since moved it to the genus Goeppertia, but the old Calathea name is still common in stores.
- Varieties and forms
- Several selections are sold in the US, such as 'Silver Lance', which has silvery green leaves with dark green stripes.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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