Rose-painted calathea

Description

Calathea roseopicta, the rose-painted calathea, is a species of plant in the family Marantaceae, native to northwest Brazil. It is a clump-forming evergreen perennial growing to 50 cm (20 in), very similar in appearance to Calathea makoyana. The large rounded leaves are dark green above, red below, marked heavily with cream or pink stripes "painted" along the veins and midriff, with feathered margins. It is tender, with a minimum temperature of 16 °C (61 °F) required, and in temperate areas is cultivated indoors as a houseplant. It requires a constant temperature of 18–24 °C (64–75 °F), high humidity levels at all times, and bright indirect light. Under the synonym Goeppertia roseopicta, this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.