About
A clump-forming, evergreen perennial to 90cm tall with leaf stalks bearing broad oval leaves, bright-green when young with pairs of pale pinkish-white bands radiating from the leaf midribs, the leaves maturing to dark green and flushed purple beneath. White flowers in spikes occasionally appear in summer.
About the genus
Goeppertia are evergreen rhizomatous perennials forming clumps of elliptic leaves, often attractively-patterned; racemes of small tubular flowers are seldom produced in cultivation. Previously included within the genus Calathea
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectEast-facing, North-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1A
Plant details
Plant typeHouseplants
HabitClump forming
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesHouseplants, Sub-tropical
Native toSE Colombia to SW Venezuela
Care notes
CultivationUnder glass grow in peat-free potting compost in bright indirect or filtered light. Provide high humidity, draught-free conditions and a constant temperature of at least 16°C. Water freely in the growing season and apply a general houseplant fertiliser monthly, reduce watering in winter
PruningCut down flower spikes after flowering is finished
PropagationPropagate by division in late spring, keep plants in warm, humid conditions until re-established
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free