Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
Marantaceae
Goeppertia (Calathea) makoyana
- 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.
Secure shipping, carefully packed orders with safe delivery across the EU, UK and Switzerland.
28-day plant guarantee, if a plant arrives damaged or fails soon after delivery, we help you make it right.
Free returns, simple, cost-free returns according to our policy.
For full details, please see:
Please head to our FAQ Page or Contact us.
Goeppertia (Calathea) makoyana
Quick Care Guide
Watering
Water when upper 20–30% dry
Substrate
Moisture-retentive but airy • Fine bark/coir + perlite or pumice • Good drainage
Temperature
Ideal: 18–25 °C • Avoid below: 15 °C
Humidity
Humid 60–80 % +
Growth habit
Upright clumping rhizomatous herbaceous perennial.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Average
Max size indoors
Max. height: 65 cm • Max. spread: 60 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.
Goeppertia (Calathea) makoyana
Goeppertia (Calathea) makoyana is the peacock plant, with pale green leaves marked by dark feathered lines and oval blotches. When the leaves lift in the evening, the reddish-purple undersides repeat the pattern from below.
This species now sits in Goeppertia, although many shops still sell it as Calathea makoyana.
The species forms a tidy rhizomatous clump with thin, ovate leaves on slender petioles. New leaves rise from the base, open from a rolled shape and settle into the peacock pattern. The leaf tissue is fine, so dry tips, curling and faded markings appear early when light, watering or humidity are unstable.
- Growth habit: Evergreen, herbaceous, rhizomatous and clump-forming.
- Leaves: Thin, ovate and softly waved.
- Pattern: Pale green with dark green feathering and oval blotches.
- Undersides: Reddish-purple.
- Mature form: Compact to medium-sized clump.
- Flowering: Small white to purple flowers can appear, though indoor plants are mainly kept for the patterned leaves.
Goeppertia makoyana is native to Espírito Santo in Brazil, where it grows in warm, shaded rainforest. Indoors, give it filtered light, steady warmth, humid air and an evenly moist, airy root zone.
Care for peacock-patterned leaves
- Light: Bright indirect light or filtered shade keeps the feathered pattern clear. Harsh sun burns the thin leaves.
- Watering: Water when the top 10–20% of the substrate starts to dry. Keep the roots evenly moist, then let excess water drain fully.
- Water quality: Low-mineral water reduces brown tips if your tap water is hard.
- Substrate: A fine, organic mix with added perlite or pumice keeps the rhizomes moist without packing around them.
- Humidity: Keep humidity around 60% or higher. Dry air leads to rolled leaves and crisp edges.
- Temperature: Keep around 18–25°C and away from cold draughts.
- Feeding: Feed lightly during active growth with diluted balanced fertiliser. Flush the substrate occasionally if salts build up.
- Cleaning: Wipe leaves gently with a damp cloth so dust does not hide the pattern.
- Repotting: Repot when the clump fills the pot or the substrate breaks down. Increase the pot size gradually.
- Propagation: Divide mature clumps, keeping each section warm and evenly moist while roots recover.
Peacock plant problems
- Brown tips: Humidity, water quality, fertiliser strength and watering rhythm all show at the fine leaf edges.
- Rolled daytime leaves: Dry roots, dry air or cold stress are common triggers.
- Several yellow leaves: The root zone may have stayed too wet or compacted.
- Weak new growth: New leaves stay small when light, warmth or feeding are too low.
- Faded markings: Harsh sun or bright direct exposure can wash out the pattern.
- Hidden pests: Spider mites, aphids, scale and mealybugs can sit under leaves and along petioles. Early marks can blend into the feathered pattern.
Goeppertia makoyana is safe for cats and dogs. Chewed leaves can still tear and may cause mild stomach upset.
The species name makoyana refers to the Jacob-Makoy nursery in Liège, Belgium, which is linked to the plant’s introduction into cultivation. Goeppertia is named after Johann Heinrich Robert Göppert; Calathea comes from a word for a basket-like vessel.
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.
Goeppertia (Calathea) makoyana
Sale price€10,00
Choose options
Goeppertia (Calathea) makoyana
Sale price€10,00
FAQs about Goeppertia makoyana
Recently viewed:
%20makoyanaGoeppertia%20(Calathea)%20makoyana%20is%20the%20peacock%20plant,%20with%20pale%20green%20leaves%20marked%20by%20dark%20feathered%20lines%20and%20oval%20blotches.%20When%20the%20leaves%20lift%20in%20the%20evening,%20the%20...){kind=link}
Sign up for Foliage Factory newsletter for early access to new arrivals and practical care tips that work in real homes.