Goeppertia ‘Beauty Star’

Cultivated origin of Goeppertia ‘Beauty Star’

‘Beauty Star’ is a cultivated Goeppertia of undocumented parentage and introduction history.

How to grow Goeppertia ‘Beauty Star’

• Repotting: Repot into a pot just one size larger after the clump has filled its container.
• Growth and rotation: The compact clump holds itself upright. Rotate the pot occasionally so new leaves develop evenly around the clump.
• Light: Use bright filtered light or light shade. Strong midday sun can fade the markings and leave dry patches.
• Watering: Keep the mix lightly and evenly moist, with free drainage. Water when the top of the mix starts to dry and let excess water escape through the drainage holes. In cooler rooms or darker weeks, check the mix by touch because it stays moist for longer.
• Potting mix: Choose a mix that holds some moisture, with bark, perlite or similar material to keep air around the roots.
• Humidity: Aim for 60–80% humidity, especially in heated rooms, with gentle air circulation around the foliage.
• Temperature: Keep temperatures consistently around 18–24 °C and avoid prolonged temperatures below 15 °C. Cold windowsills, draughts and direct radiator heat can damage the leaves.
• Feeding: Feed once a month with a balanced houseplant fertiliser while new growth is steady. Stop regular feeds when active growth pauses.
• Propagation: Separate a mature clump into well-rooted sections, each with several leaves or new shoots.

Common problems

• Dry brown margins: Low humidity and uneven moisture are common causes, especially in heated rooms. Raise humidity, water more consistently and check the brown leaf tips guide if the damage keeps returning.
• Leaves curling tightly or drooping: Check both moisture and temperature. Rewater if the mix is dry; if it is already wet, let it drain. Move the plant to a warmer part of the room if the leaves feel chilled.
• Yellow leaves: If the mix stays wet and yellowing continues, check the roots before cutting. Keep all firm, viable roots, even when naturally dark. Remove only mushy, hollow or foul-smelling tissue with disinfected scissors. Refresh broken-down mix in a draining pot that fits the roots. For more recovery advice, see the root rot guide.
• Fine speckling or webbing: Inspect leaf undersides for living spider mites or fine webbing and isolate the plant if infestation is confirmed. Gently clean accessible, mature foliage and use only a locally authorised treatment for spider mites on indoor ornamentals if necessary. Follow its labelled sites, dose and repeat interval.
• Dry bleached patches: Too much direct light is likely. Move the plant into filtered light and judge the improvement from each new leaf as it emerges.

Goeppertia ornata ‘Beauty Star’ is non-toxic to cats and dogs

• This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Its effects on people are unclear, so keep it away from young children who may chew it.
• Eating a large amount can still cause an upset stomach. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms continue.

Why do both Calathea ornata and Goeppertia ornata appear?

The genus name Goeppertia honours Heinrich Göppert. The epithet ornata is Latin for adorned or decorated, referring to the striped leaves.

Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck established the genus Goeppertia in 1831 in Linnaea, volume 6, page 337.

Charles Lemaire first described it as Maranta ornata in 1848 in Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l’Europe, volume 4, plate 413. Finn Borchsenius and Luz Stella Suárez later placed it in Goeppertia as Goeppertia ornata in 2012 in Systematic Botany, volume 37, page 633.

The familiar former name is Calathea ornata. Finn Borchsenius, Luz Stella Suárez and Linda M. Prince restored Goeppertia for this group in 2012 in Systematic Botany, volume 37.