The Fishbone Prayer Plant or Ctenanthe burle-marxii is a stunning plant to look at and will make a bold, tropical statement in your home. We just love the contrasting dark green patterns against the pale green leaves and the rich red colour of the undersides. What is particularly exciting about this plant, is the movement of its leaves in the morning and evening. This is a fun feature which never gets tiring to watch!
Native Habitat
This plant is native to Brazil, South America.
Light and position in the home
Ctenanthe burle-marxii is low-light tolerant and will prefer a slightly shaded spot in your home with either some morning or late afternoon sun. Light should be fairly bright but never direct. A room with an east or north facing window will be ideal!
Foliage and flowers
The leaves are the most exciting feature on this plant - with dark green markings on the top and a gorgeous deep red colour on the undersides, which are shown off at night when the leaves fold upwards. These plants can produce flowers in the wild, but very rarely do when grown as houseplants.
Temperature
These tropical plants are comfortable in warmer environments and can be sensitive to temperatures less than 10-12C. Normal room temperature is usually ideal for this plant.
Pets
This plant is non-toxic and safe for homes with cats and dogs.
Watering
These plants like to be kept fairly moist, but due to their fine, delicate roots, they can be prone to root rot. Therefore, be mindful not to over-water and allow the top couple of inches of soil to dry out in between watering.
Did you know?
Ctenanthe burle-marxii is named after Roberto Burle Marx - a Brazilian landscape architect, artist and environmentalist. He had a substantial houseplant collection in his home and many of his designs involved tropical plants. More importantly, he was one of the first Brazilians to speak out against deforestation and call for the conservation of Brazil's rainforests!
View indoor plant subscriptions
Find similar articles
Plant informationMore stories
Plants for late autumn - spotlight on our November outdoor plant collection
As we draw into November, autumn turns to winter and the weather gets colder and wetter. Winter stems start making their ap...
How do I care for my Anthurium Aristo?
Anthurium Aristo, also known as the Flamingo flower is an easy-to-care for plant that shows off all year round with its waxy leaves and bright c...