Species · genus Goeppertia · Marantaceae
Zebraplant
Goeppertia zebrina (Sims) Nees
Also known as: Zebra Calathea · Zebra-plant
Cultivars of G. zebrina
The named forms growers keep — each with its own page, each honest about how much we know.
No named cultivars catalogued under G. zebrina yet. When growers document a stable, named form, it earns its own page here.
Guide
The species-level account. Cultivar pages build on this and say where they differ.
The Zebra Plant
Goeppertia zebrina, still often sold under its old name Calathea zebrina, is an evergreen clump-forming perennial grown for its patterned foliage. It belongs to the Marantaceae family and occasionally produces spikes of small white or purple flowers in summer, though this is a bonus rather than the main event.
Source: RHS
A Brazilian Native
This plant's natural range is Brazil, where it grows as part of the wider Goeppertia genus, a group of rhizomatous evergreen perennials once classed under Calathea. In cultivation it rarely flowers, so it is kept chiefly for its leaves rather than for any floral display.
Source: RHS
A Warm, Shaded Rhythm
Give this plant partial shade and, if grown under glass, bright indirect or filtered light with high humidity and draught-free warmth held at a constant 16°C or above. Pot it in peat-free compost that is moist but well-drained, water moderately through the growing season and keep it just moist over winter, and feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertiliser while it is actively growing.
Source: RHS
Division in Spring
This plant is propagated by division, carried out in late spring.
Source: RHS
Marked Like a Zebra
The long-stalked leaves are light green with regular dark green markings flanking the midrib, and their undersides carry a red-purple flush, which is the source of the common name zebra plant. It forms a clump reaching roughly 0.5 to 1 metre in height with a more modest spread, and its habit is described as low maintenance once conditions suit it.
Source: RHS
Whitefly and Spider Mite
Under glass this plant may be troubled by glasshouse whitefly or glasshouse red spider mite, so it is worth watching for their early signs. Otherwise it is generally free of disease.
Source: RHS
Little Pruning Needed
No pruning is required for this plant. It suits patio and container growing and is considered a low-maintenance choice, taking around five to ten years to reach full maturity.
Source: RHS
Care recipe
The species record — the baseline every cultivar inherits unless it says otherwise.
Care notes are early — not yet verified
- Light
- ai:claude-opus-4-8
- Water
- ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 5-10d)
- Humidity
- ai:claude-opus-4-8
- Soil
- ai:claude-fable-5
- Care
- ai:claude-fable-5
Bright, indirect
≈ every 10 days
High
16–27 °C
Peat-based, airy mix that holds moisture yet drains
Division of the rhizome at repotting
Dilute balanced feed monthly in spring and summer
Moderate
Grown for foliage; rarely flowers indoors
Non-toxic to cats & dogs
Prayer-plant family (Marantaceae). ASPCA lists Calathea insignis (= Goeppertia insignis) non-toxic; the genus is uniformly safe. This is where toxicity lives: every cultivar of this species inherits it and none can override it.
Reference images
Every image credited. Licenses link to their deeds.
PrimarySources: ai:claude-opus-4-8 · ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 5-10d) · ai:claude-fable-5 · ASPCA
Kept true by its growers
Every fact here carries its source. Grow Zebraplant yourself? What you’ve observed — how it drinks, how it holds its color, a name that’s off — and a clear photo of your plant are exactly what keep this page honest. Contributions are reviewed before anything changes.
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