Genus · Marantaceae
Ctenanthe
3 species tracked in Horta’s catalog, and the named cultivars growers keep. Walk down to a species for its full care record, or into a cultivar for its traits and provenance.
Species in this genus
The ones growers meet most — each links to its own page.
Ctenanthe oppenheimiana
Never-never-plant
Ctenanthe oppenheimiana is a perennial from the tropical forests of northeastern Brazil, a Marantaceae understory plant that wants warmth, steady humidity, and bright indirect light rather than direct sun, which scorches its patterned leaves. Keep the mix lightly, evenly moist but never soggy: water when the top inch is approaching dry, and ease off in cooler or darker conditions to avoid rot. Dry air and crisping leaf edges signal it needs more ambient humidity.
Ctenanthe burle-marxii
Fishbone Prayer Plant
A low-growing perennial from the shaded understory of southeastern Brazil, this Marantaceae wants warmth, steady moisture, and protection from direct sun, which scorches its patterned leaves. Keep it in bright indirect light and water when the top inch of mix has just begun to dry, allowing slight drying between waterings rather than leaving it soggy. It naturally prefers higher humidity, so expect leaf-edge browning in dry indoor air.
Ctenanthe setosa
Never Never Plant
Ctenanthe setosa is a perennial of the Marantaceae from the shaded, humid forest floors of eastern Brazil, so it wants warmth, steady moisture, and bright indirect light rather than direct sun, which scorches the patterned leaves. Keep the mix evenly moist but never sodden, watering when the top inch has dried, and lean toward the drier end if light or warmth are low. As a humidity-loving understory plant it appreciates higher ambient moisture and protection from cold drafts.
About the genus
A genus-level overview — shared traits, history, the botany that ties these plants together — is on its way. For now, the species and cultivars above and below carry the genus.
Kept true by its growers
Ctenanthe keeps evolving — species move, cultivars appear, IDs get corrected. If you can place an unplaced plant or add a species we’re missing, the whole genus gets truer.
Overview derived from 3 tracked species · the contribute flow arrives with the next slice.