Goeppertia ornata

Pinstripe Calathea, Pinstripe Plant, Calathea ornata

Moderate careTerrestrialNon-toxic60–90 cm

A tropical perennial with glossy dark green leaves lined with delicate pink-to-white pinstripes radiating from the midrib, and deep purple undersides. Native to the wet forests of Colombia and Venezuela, it does best in the warm, humid conditions of a closed terrarium. Growth is slow — it often drops older leaves to push new ones — making it a low-maintenance focal plant once settled in.

Build a terrarium with this plant
Pinstripe Calathea image

Photo by Dinkum·CC0

Care

Light

Indirect light(preferred)Shade tolerant

Humidity

High (60–80%)(preferred)Very high (80%+)

Temperature

10°C25°C40°C
18°C – 29°C

Soil

Peat moss(preferred)Well draining

Moisture

Moist(preferred)

Soil pH

5.5 – 7

Appearance

Growth habit

ClumpingUpright

Leaf shape

Oval

Leaf texture

GlossySmooth

Distribution

Propagation

Divide the rhizome during repotting in spring. Use a clean knife to make a vertical cut, making sure each division has several leaves and healthy roots.