Genus · Marantaceae
Maranta
2 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.
Maranta leuconeura
Prayer Plant
Maranta leuconeura is a low, spreading subshrub from the humid forest floors of Brazil, where it grows in dappled shade beneath the canopy. Give it bright indirect light away from direct sun, which scorches the patterned leaves, and keep the mix evenly but lightly moist — water when the top inch of mix has dried, roughly every 4 to 9 days. As a tropical understory plant it wants warmth and elevated humidity; dry household air shows as browning, crisping leaf edges.
Maranta arundinacea
Arrowroot
Maranta arundinacea is a member of the Marantaceae, a family of tropical understory plants that grow in warm, humid forest shade with consistently moist but well-drained soil. Give it bright indirect light away from direct sun, and water when the top inch of mix has dried, keeping it lightly moist rather than soggy. It favors warmth and elevated humidity, and will not tolerate sitting in standing water.
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
Maranta 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 2 tracked species · the contribute flow arrives with the next slice.