Calathea Peacock in 6″Pot

A clump-forming evergreen perennial in the prayer-plant family (Marantaceae), native to the Atlantic rainforests of Espírito Santo, eastern Brazil. It grows from thin rhizomes in a neat rosette, reaching about 30–60 cm (1–2 ft) tall and 20–30 cm (8–12 in) wide—perfect tabletop size. Leaves are oval to oblong (≈15 cm/6 in), thin and papery, with a striking feather-like pattern of creamy-silvery green and darker olive-green blotches along the midrib and veins—like a peacock’s tail. The undersides are deep burgundy-purple, and new leaves emerge rolled, showing pinkish-red tones. Like other prayer plants, the foliage rises and folds at night and lowers in daylight (nyctinasty). Flowers (tiny white/purple spikes) are rare indoors; it’s grown for foliage. RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Quick care: bright, indirect or filtered light (direct sun scorches and fades patterns; tolerates medium/low light but grows slower). Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy—water when the top 2–3 cm feels dry; use lukewarm distilled/rainwater or filtered water (sensitive to fluoride/ salts—leaf tips brown with hard tap water). Loves warmth (18–27 °C / 65–80 °F; no <15 °C / 60 °F) and high humidity (50–70 %; mist, humidifier, pebble tray, or group with other tropicals). Use a loose, well-drained, slightly acidic mix (peat/bark/perlite). Feed diluted balanced fertilizer every 2–4 weeks in spring–summer; reduce in winter. Repot every 1–2 years or divide clumps. Pet-friendly (non-toxic).