Plant Library
Types of Calathea: 11 Varieties Identified
The best Calathea types — Orbifolia, Medallion, Rattlesnake, Peacock, Pinstripe and White Fusion — identified with care signals. All non-toxic to pets per ASPCA.
Types of Calathea: 11 Varieties Identified
Calathea is the prayer-plant family's most dramatic foliage genus: silvery pinstripes, peacock feathering, rattlesnake blotches and purple undersides that fold up theatrically each evening. The catch is that the name is now botanically tangled. A 2012 molecular study (Borchsenius, Suárez & Prince) split the old genus in two, moving roughly 200 species into the resurrected genus Goeppertia — so the plant you buy as Calathea orbifolia is technically Goeppertia orbifolia. Almost every shop, in both the US and UK, still labels them "Calathea," and we use that common name throughout this guide.
This guide identifies eleven real, widely sold varieties — what each one looks like and the light and water it needs. The good news for pet owners: the ASPCA lists the genus as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses, so you can collect freely. The bad news for everyone: most Calatheas are humidity divas, and the rarest ones are the fussiest. We've flagged which are beginner-friendly and which to save for once you've kept one alive.
Match a calathea to your space: Snap your room in Growli — we'll measure the light level and tell you which calathea variety will hold its look in your conditions.
Related: Calathea care guide · calathea care · prayer plant care
The 11 most common types of calathea
1. Orbifolia — Goeppertia orbifolia (syn. Calathea orbifolia)
Very large, near-round leaves up to 30-40 cm wide, pale silvery-green with broad alternating dark-green stripes radiating from the midrib. The biggest, roundest leaf of the common Calatheas — no purple underside, no fine pinstripes.
Care signal: Bright indirect light, never direct sun; keep soil evenly moist, water with distilled or rainwater when the top 2-3 cm dries. Needs 60%+ humidity.
2. Medallion (Rose-painted) — Goeppertia roseopicta 'Medallion' (syn. Calathea roseopicta)
Rounded oval leaves with a dark-green base, a pale feather-like ring and rosy-pink to silver brushstrokes around the midrib; the underside is rich purple-maroon. Looks like a painted medallion.
Care signal: Low to medium indirect light (avoid direct sun, which fades the pattern); keep evenly moist with filtered or rainwater; high humidity preferred.
3. Rattlesnake Plant — Goeppertia insignis (syn. Calathea lancifolia)
Long, narrow, wavy-edged lance-shaped leaves in pale yellow-green, marked with alternating large and small dark-green ovals down the midrib (the 'rattlesnake' pattern); reddish-purple undersides.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; water when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry using filtered water. One of the more forgiving Calatheas — tolerates average room humidity better than most.
4. Peacock Plant (Makoyana) — Goeppertia makoyana (syn. Calathea makoyana)
Thin, almost translucent oval leaves patterned with fine dark-green 'feather' brushstrokes and oval spots over a light-green base — the classic peacock-tail look; purple reverse. Also called Cathedral Windows.
Care signal: Bright indirect light, no direct sun; keep consistently moist (not soggy) with filtered or rainwater; needs humidity above 60%.
5. Pinstripe (Ornata) — Goeppertia ornata (syn. Calathea ornata)
Dark glossy green leaves ruled with precise, thin pink to silvery-white pinstripes running from the midrib to the edge; deep purple underside. Stripes can mature toward white on older leaves.
Care signal: Bright indirect light (direct sun fades the stripes); keep soil evenly moist with distilled, rain or filtered water; humidity above 60%.
6. Zebra Plant (Zebrina) — Goeppertia zebrina (syn. Calathea zebrina)
Large, soft, velvety-textured deep-green leaves with light-green zebra striping along the veins; reddish-purple undersides. Matte velvet feel distinguishes it from glossy Calatheas.
Care signal: Filtered, bright indirect light; keep evenly moist with distilled or rainwater, never waterlogged; thrives at 60-80% humidity.
7. Network (Musaica) — Goeppertia kegeljanii 'Network' (syn. Calathea musaica)
Light-green leaves covered in a fine grid of dark-green lines forming a mosaic or stained-glass 'network'; pattern glows when backlit. No purple underside — unusual for the genus.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; water when the top 2-3 cm dries, soaking thoroughly. Considered one of the easiest Calatheas, though it still prefers high humidity.
8. White Fusion — Goeppertia lietzei 'White Fusion' (syn. Calathea lietzei)
Unpredictable watercolour variegation — green, white and lilac patches feathering into one another, with magenta-pink undersides and stems. Every leaf is different; the most collectible variety.
Care signal: Bright indirect light (delicate white patches scorch in direct sun and dull in low light); consistently moist with distilled or rainwater; demands 70%+ humidity. The fussiest type here.
9. Freddie — Goeppertia concinna 'Freddie' (syn. Calathea concinna)
Elongated, lance-shaped leaves in light chartreuse-to-silvery green with fine, alternating dark-green stripes across the blade — a softer, more upright relative of the rattlesnake look.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; keep evenly moist with distilled or filtered water; high humidity preferred. One of the more manageable striped Calatheas.
10. Jungle Velvet (Warscewiczii) — Goeppertia warszewiczii (syn. Calathea warscewiczii)
Large deep-green leaves with a feathery light-green midrib pattern, ruffled wavy edges and a soft velvety surface; vivid purple, finely hairy undersides. A big plant — can reach 3-4 ft. Can flower indoors with cone-shaped white blooms.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; keep consistently moist with distilled or rainwater (very sensitive to hard water); needs high humidity.
11. Furry Feather (Rufibarba) — Goeppertia rufibarba (syn. Calathea rufibarba)
Long, narrow, wavy-edged glossy green leaves with no surface pattern; the giveaway is the fine reddish 'beard' of hairs on the purple-tinged underside, midribs and stems — soft, fuzzy to the touch.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; water with filtered or rested water once the top 2-3 cm dries; prefers humidity above 50% — relatively tolerant for a Calathea.
Are calathea toxic to cats and dogs?
The ASPCA lists Calathea spp. (family Marantaceae) as non-toxic to dogs, non-toxic to cats, and non-toxic to horses — the genus carries no oxalate or saponin warning, so every variety in this guide is considered pet-safe. The ASPCA's separate "Prayer Plant" listing (also Marantaceae) is likewise non-toxic, covering close relatives sold under the same banner. This makes Calathea / Goeppertia one of the safest statement foliage genera for homes with pets. Important caveat: "non-toxic" is not the same as "consequence-free." The thick, fibrous leaves can be hard to digest, so a pet that eats a large amount may still get mild, temporary stomach upset. If your animal nibbles a leaf there's no poisoning risk, but contact a vet if vomiting or lethargy persists.
Frequently asked questions
Are Calatheas toxic to cats and dogs?
No. The ASPCA lists Calathea spp. (family Marantaceae) as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses, and the same applies to the prayer-plant relatives sold under this banner. Every variety in this guide — Orbifolia, Medallion, Rattlesnake, Peacock, Pinstripe, White Fusion and the rest — is considered pet-safe. Non-toxic does not mean zero reaction, though: the fibrous leaves can be hard to digest, so a pet eating a large amount may get mild, temporary stomach upset.
Why is Calathea now called Goeppertia?
A 2012 molecular study by Borchsenius, Suárez and Prince found the old genus Calathea was not a natural group. Botanists resurrected the genus Goeppertia and moved roughly 200 species into it, leaving about 37 species in Calathea. So Calathea orbifolia is botanically Goeppertia orbifolia, and Calathea makoyana is Goeppertia makoyana. Nurseries and shops still use 'Calathea' on labels almost everywhere, so both names refer to the same plants.
What is the rarest Calathea?
Calathea White Fusion (Goeppertia lietzei 'White Fusion') is the most sought-after and hardest-to-find variety. It is a stable variegated mutation first discovered in a Malaysian nursery in 2007, and its watercolour green-white-lilac leaves are slower to propagate and more fragile than standard Calatheas, which keeps supply limited and prices higher.
Which Calathea is the easiest for beginners?
The Network plant (Goeppertia kegeljanii / Calathea musaica) and the Rattlesnake plant (Goeppertia insignis / Calathea lancifolia) are usually cited as the most forgiving. The Network handles slightly drier air than most, and the Rattlesnake tolerates ordinary room conditions better than the thin-leaved divas like White Fusion or Peacock. All Calatheas still prefer high humidity and filtered water.
Why do my Calathea leaves get brown crispy edges?
Brown crispy edges almost always mean low humidity, inconsistent watering, or mineral build-up from hard tap water. Calatheas evolved in rainforest understory at 60-90% humidity and are sensitive to the fluoride, chlorine and salts in tap water. Use distilled, rain or filtered water, keep soil evenly moist but never soggy, and raise humidity with a humidifier or pebble tray.
Do all Calatheas fold their leaves at night?
Yes. Calatheas and their Marantaceae relatives are 'prayer plants' — they raise and fold their leaves in the evening and lower them in the morning through a daily movement called nyctinasty, driven by a hinge-like structure called the pulvinus at the base of each leaf. It is normal and a sign of a healthy plant responding to the day-night cycle.
What is the difference between a Calathea and a Maranta?
Both are prayer plants in the family Marantaceae and both fold their leaves at night, but they are different genera. Maranta (the true 'prayer plant') tends to have a low, trailing, spreading habit with rounder leaves, while Calathea / Goeppertia generally grows more upright and clumping with larger, more boldly patterned foliage. The ASPCA lists both as non-toxic to cats and dogs.