Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
Marantaceae
Ctenanthe burle-marxii
- 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.
VAT included · plus
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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Ctenanthe burle-marxii
Quick Care Guide
Watering
Water when ~20–35% dry
Substrate
Moisture-retentive but aerated • Evenly moist • Organic-leaning • Fine-medium
Temperature
Ideal: 18–27 °C • Avoid below: 10 °C
Humidity
Humid 60–80 % +
Growth habit
Upright clumping rhizomatous herbaceous perennial.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Average
Max size indoors
Max. height: 50 cm • Max. spread: 40 cm
Toxicity & safety
Non-toxic
Origin & habitat
Native to Brazil (Espírito Santo)
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.
Ctenanthe burle-marxii
Ctenanthe burle-marxii has oval green leaves marked with dark fishbone bands. The markings follow the side veins, and the purple to burgundy undersides become more visible in the evening.
This Brazilian Marantaceae species grows from a rhizomatous base, with new shoots coming up from the base. Over time, it thickens and fills the pot. The leaves grow on slender stalks from the central growth.
Fishbone leaves and clump growth
- Clumping growth from a rhizomatous base
- Green leaves with dark fishbone-style markings
- Purple to burgundy undersides
- Leaves change position through the day
- Gradually thickens as new shoots appear
Origin and indoor needs
This species is native to Espírito Santo in south-eastern Brazil, where it grows as a perennial in a seasonally dry tropical environment. Indoors, it does best with warmth, filtered light and evenly moist substrate. Cold, wet substrate can stress the roots quickly.
How to care for Ctenanthe burle-marxii
- Light: Bright indirect light or light shade; avoid direct midday sun through glass.
- Watering: Water when the top few centimetres of the substrate begin to dry; keep the rootball lightly moist, not wet. If the mix dries too far, the leaves may curl before the plant visibly wilts.
- Substrate: Use an airy mix with fine bark, fibre such as coir or peat-free material, perlite and a small organic component.
- Humidity: Moderate to high humidity helps reduce dry brown edges.
- Temperature: 18–27 °C; avoid cold, damp conditions.
- Feeding: Feed lightly during active growth; flush occasionally to reduce mineral build-up.
- Repotting: Repot when roots fill the pot or watering becomes difficult.
- Grooming: Remove tired outer leaves at the base.
- Propagation: Divide established clumps, keeping several rooted shoots on each section.
Problem signs
- Curling leaves: Check for dry substrate, heat or root stress.
- Brown tips: Usually linked to dry air, uneven watering or mineral-heavy water.
- Yellow lower leaves: Occasional older leaves are normal; several at once can point to cold, wet roots.
- Pale or crisp patches: Move the plant away from direct sun or heat reflected from glass.
- Fine speckling: Check the undersides for spider mites.
Household note
Keep Ctenanthe burle-marxii away from pets and children that nibble houseplants. Eaten leaves can upset sensitive stomachs. Torn leaves stay marked until new growth replaces them.
Name and family
Ctenanthe burle-marxii belongs to Marantaceae. The genus name Ctenanthe is commonly linked to Greek roots meaning “comb” and “anther”, referring to the flower structure. The species name burle-marxii honours Roberto Burle Marx, the Brazilian landscape designer and plant collector.
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.
Ctenanthe burle-marxii
Sale price€12,50
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Ctenanthe burle-marxii
Sale price€12,50
FAQs about Ctenanthe burle-marxii
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