Bennett Plant Housei

Calathea zebrina, commonly known as zebra plant, is noted for its striking ornamental leaves which feature zebra-like stripes as suggested by both the specific epithet and the common name. This is a compact, rhizomatous, evergreen perennial that typically grows to 1-3’ tall in containers. It is native to tropical areas of southeastern Brazil. Leaves (to 12” long or more) rise on long petioles from basal rosettes to form a foliage clump. Leaves are velvety dark green highlighted by showy, broad, parallel chartreuse stripes or bars which extend along the veins from the mid-vein to the leaf margins in a zebra-like configuration.

BRAND

Leaf undersides are reddish-purple. Leaves fold together at dusk in a manner somewhat resembling praying hands, hence the sometimes used common name of prayer plant. Inconspicuous, white to purple flowers bloom in spring on upright stalks, but flowers rarely bloom on indoor plants. Genus name comes from the Latin word calathus meaning basket in reference to the inflorescence looking like a basket of flowers. Specific epithet is in reference to the zebra-like stripes found on plant leaves.