The Calathea is a large genus of tropical plants. Their foliage is attractive and colorful, which makes them ideal as houseplants. The leaves are green, with stripes or patches of white, dark green, light green, or light red. The surface underneath is reddish purple.
Calathea belongs to the family Marantaceae, a distant relative of ginger. There are about 25 species in the genus. Native to the tropical Americas, they are popularly called the Prayer Plant, as their leaves tend to fold as night approaches. They are also known as zebra plants because of their colorful leaf markings.
These plants are excellent landscape plants for shaded gardens. Some of the plants tend to be smaller, about half a foot in height. Others, however, may grow as tall as two to three feet. Landscape designers like to place them in corners, which could use some of the color these plants have. They are also used as a colorful border in the garden.
Ref: Justin B. Morelos
