Maranta bicolor

Maranta bicolor (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Indirect bright to low light

Flowering period: All year round

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 25cm

Eventual Spread: 40cm

Hardiness: 10b, 11, 12, 13

Family: Marantaceae

Maranta bicolor is an evergreen tropical perennial with a clump forming habit. Its dark green leaves have light green coloration around its veins, are ovate with entire margins, its underside is pale purple, are up to 15cm long and 10cm across. Its leaves tend to lay flat during the day and roll up into an erect position during the night. Its white tubular flowers are insignificant and appear on long stems.

Maranta bicolor, commonly known as Prayer Plant or Arrowroot, is native to east Brazil. In its native habitat it grows as a tropical woodland understory plant. Maranta bicolor is synonymous with Maranta cristata.

The etymological root of the binomial name Maranta is named after Bartolomea Maranti ( ? – 1571), a Venetian botanist. Bicolor is from the Latin meaning ‘of two colours’.

The landscape architect may find Maranta bicolor useful as an attractive foliage houseplant suitable for indirect bright and low light conditions.

Ecologically, Maranta bicolor is of little value in to UK wildlife.

Maranta bicolor Leaf (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Maranta bicolor prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

When maintaining Maranta bicolor as a houseplant its soil should be watered regularly. Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 18ºc to 24ºc, it will tolerate a temperature as low as 15ºc. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out every two weeks during the growing season. Regular spraying with water will help to improve the humidity for this plant. Red Spider Mite may attack this plant. Regular pruning of old growth will encourage a more attractive plant.



Landscape Architecture

Calathea loeseneri

Calathea loeseneri (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Bright to low indirect light

Flowering period: All year round

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 90cm

Eventual Spread: 90cm

Hardiness: 10a, 10b, 11, 12

Family: Marantaceae

Calathea loeseneri is an evergreen tropical perennial with a clump forming habit. Its mid green leaves have a light green midrib, are ovate with entire margis, up to 40cm long and 15cm across.  Its white/ pale pink flowers are up to 7cm across and appear terminally on erect stems. Its roots contain rhizomes which aids its slow spread.

Calathea loeseneri, commonly known as Star Calathea or Brazilian Star Calathea, is native to north west South America. In its native habitat it grows as a tropical woodland understory plant.

The etymological root of the binomial name Calathea is derived from the Latin calathus menaing ‘flower basket’, in reference to its flowers. Loeseneri is named after Ludwig Edward Theodor Loesener (1865 – 1941), a German botanist, however he was not responsible for first describing this plant.

The landscape architect may find Calathea loeseneri useful as a foliage houseplant with attractive flowers, suitable for bright to low light locations.

Ecologically, Calathea loeseneri flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.

Calathea loeseneri Leaf (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Calathea loeseneri prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

When maintaining Calathea loeseneri as a houseplant its soil should be watered regularly. Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 16ºc to 24ºc, it will tolerate a temperature as low as 10ºc. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out once a month during the growing season. The leaves may be sprayed with water to increase humidity. Red spider Mites, Mealy Bug and Scale Insects may attack this plant.



Landscape Architecture

Ctenanthe setosa

Ctenanthe setosa (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Indirect bright to medium light

Flowering period: All year round

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 1m

Eventual Spread: 1m

Hardiness: 10a, 10b, 11, 12

Family: Marantaceae

Ctenanthe setosa is an evergreen perennial with a clump forming habit. Its striped dark green and silver/ grey leaves are purple on their undersides, elliptic with entire margins, up t0 45cm long and 10cm across. Its leaf petioles are hairy. Its white flowers are borne on short spikes. Its rots have rhizomes which aids its slow spread.

Ctenanthe setosa, commonly known as Prayer Plant, is native Brazil. In its native habitat it grows as a tropical woodland understory plant.

The etymological root of the binomial name Ctenanthe is derived from the Greek ktenos meaning ‘comb’ and anthera menaing ‘anther’. Setosa is derived from the Latin Seta meaning ‘bristle’.

The landscape architect may find Ctenanthe setosa useful as an attractive foliage houseplant suitable for bright conditions. It is also suitable for atrium planting as a ground cover plant.

Ecologically, Ctenanthe setosa is of little value to UK wildlife.

Ctenanthe setosa Leaf (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Ctenanthe setosa prefers moist, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

When maintaining  Ctenanthe setosa as a houseplant its soil should be watered regularly. Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 18ºc to 24ºc, although it will tolerate a winter temperature as low as 10ºc. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out once every two weeks during the growing season. This plant may be sprayed to improve humidity. Red Spider Mite and Mealy Bugs may attack this plant.



Landscape Architecture