Add striking colour and texture to your indoor space with the Rattlesnake Plant. Its long, wavy leaves feature distinctive dark-green markings over a lighter green surface, complemented by rich purple undersides.
This tropical plant enjoys warm, humid indoor conditions and bright, indirect light. Its leaves naturally rise and fold between day and night, adding movement and character to the display.
Plant Details:
- Common name: Rattlesnake Plant / Calathea
- Scientific name: Goeppertia insignis
- Formerly known as: Calathea lancifolia
- Family: Marantaceae
- Plant type: Evergreen tropical indoor plant
- Nursery pot diameter: 25 cm
- Foliage: Wavy, patterned green leaves with purple undersides
- Light: Bright, indirect or filtered light
- Watering: Moderate; keep the soil lightly and evenly moist
- Humidity: High
- Soil: Fertile, loose, and well-drained potting mix
- Growth habit: Upright and clump-forming
- Suitable for: Living rooms, bedrooms, offices, reception areas, and shaded indoor spaces
- Pet safety: Considered non-toxic to cats and dogs
Care Tips:
- Place in bright, indirect light and protect it from direct sunlight.
- Water when the upper layer of soil begins to feel slightly dry.
- Keep the soil lightly moist without allowing it to become waterlogged.
- Maintain good humidity, especially in air-conditioned rooms.
- Keep away from cold air-conditioning vents, hot drafts, and sudden temperature changes.
- Use filtered or low-mineral water when possible to help reduce brown leaf tips.
- Feed monthly with a diluted, balanced indoor-plant fertilizer during active growth.
- Wipe the leaves gently to remove dust and maintain their attractive appearance.
Note: The supplied plant may vary slightly in height, leaf pattern, colour, shape, and fullness due to natural growth. The 25 cm measurement refers to the nursery pot diameter, not the plant’s total height. A decorative outer pot is not included.