Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
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Acanthaceae
Aphelandra squarrosa
- Curated selection:
Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
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Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.
- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
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Aphelandra squarrosa
Quick Care Guide
Watering
Water when ~20–35% dry
Substrate
Moisture-retentive but aerated • Evenly moist • Organic-leaning • Fine-medium
Temperature
Ideal: 18–24 °C • Avoid below: 15 °C
Humidity
Humid 60–80 % +
Growth habit
Upright bushy herbaceous perennial.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Average
Max size indoors
Max. height: 60 cm • Max. spread: 60 cm
Toxicity & safety
Non-toxic
Origin & habitat
Native to northeastern and southeastern Brazil
Outdoor growing
Outside from 15 °C · sheltered spot
How to read these values
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.
For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.
- Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
- Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
- Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
- Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
- Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.
- Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
- Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
- Growth speed: expected pace under suitable indoor conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term indoor size under good conditions.
- Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
- Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
- Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.
Aphelandra squarrosa
Aphelandra squarrosa, often sold as the zebra plant, has glossy dark green leaves crossed by strong pale veins. The leaves sit in opposite pairs along upright stems, giving the plant a clear shrubby shape even when young. In bright filtered light with steady moisture, it keeps shorter, fuller stems.
Older, settled plants may produce upright yellow bracts, with small tubular flowers emerging between them. These spikes appear above the foliage and last longer than the flowers themselves. The patterned leaves are the main feature for most of the year.
This species belongs to Acanthaceae and is native to Brazil, especially northeastern and southeastern Brazil. Indoors it behaves like a small tropical shrub: steady growth from the stem tips, with older parts gradually firming up and becoming slightly woody. Cutting back after flowering or after stretched growth encourages new side shoots.
Keeping Aphelandra squarrosa steady
- Light: Bright, filtered light is ideal. Direct midday sun can mark the leaves, while low light leads to longer, weaker growth.
- Watering: Keep the substrate lightly and evenly moist. Water once the top layer starts to dry, then let excess drain away fully.
- Substrate: Use a mix that holds moisture but stays open, such as a houseplant base with fine bark and perlite or pumice.
- Temperature: Stable warmth works best, around 18–26 °C. Cold draughts and cold, wet soil can quickly stress the plant.
- Humidity: Moderate to high humidity helps prevent brown edges and lets new leaves open without crisp tips.
- Feeding: Feed lightly while new leaves are developing.
- Pruning: Cut back after flowering or when stems become long and sparse.
- Repotting: Move up only when the root ball fills the pot.
- Propagation: Stem cuttings root from healthy, non-flowering shoots.
Wilting, brown edges and leaf drop
- Wilting can come from either dry roots or waterlogged, airless soil. Check the root ball before adjusting watering.
- Brown edges often point to dry air, uneven watering, or mineral build-up.
- Leaf drop may follow cold exposure, a dry root ball, or sudden changes in conditions.
- Pale, stretched growth indicates insufficient light.
- Spider mites, mealybugs and scale may appear in warm, dry air.
After flowering, remove the spent spike close to the stem. This helps new side shoots develop. Older plants may develop a woody base, which is normal for this type of shrub.
Aphelandra squarrosa is generally regarded as non-toxic to pets, but it is still best kept out of reach of animals or children that might ingest plant material. The sap can irritate sensitive skin during pruning.
The genus name Aphelandra refers to the structure of the flower’s anthers. The species name squarrosa is used botanically for spreading or slightly recurved parts.
Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.
Aphelandra squarrosa
Sale price€14,75
FAQs about Aphelandra squarrosa
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