Maranta leuconeura 'Fascinator' ('Tricolor', 'Red Stripe')

Fascinator names and species background

Maranta leuconeura is native to central and eastern Brazil. The botanical name Maranta fascinator was published in 1894 and is now treated as an older name for the species. Fascinator, Tricolor and Red Stripe are names used today for this red-veined plant.

Growing Fascinator well

• Light: Keep 'Fascinator' in a bright position with filtered or indirect light.
• Watering: While the plant is growing strongly, keep the mix evenly moist. Water again as the surface begins to dry and allow excess water to drain.
• Humidity: Keep humidity up around the leaves, especially where heating or air-conditioning dries the room.
• Temperature: Keep room temperatures above about 15 °C and away from sudden temperature changes.
• Potting mix: A peat-free houseplant mix that stays moist and drains freely works well.
• Water quality: Where tap water contains high fluoride, use rainwater.
• Feeding: Feed lightly with a balanced houseplant fertiliser during periods of fresh growth, following the label.
• Repotting and propagation: Repot once roots fill the container or the mix compacts. For propagation, separate an established plant into pieces that have roots.

Signs of trouble with Fascinator

• Leaves become bleached or develop tan patches: Strong direct sun can damage the leaves. Shift the plant into bright indirect light and look for healthy colour in new leaves.
• Brown tips keep appearing across several leaves: Too much fertiliser or fluoride in the water may be causing the problem. Flush the potting mix and pause feeding. Use rainwater if needed. Resume feeding later with a light dose, following the label.
• Fine pale speckles and webbing spread across the leaves: Spider mites may be present. Isolate the plant and wash both leaf surfaces. If treatment is needed, use a product labelled for spider mites and repeat it as directed on the label.
• Edges become crisp and leaves roll inward: A dry root ball, low humidity or cold air can cause this. Water if the root ball is dry, raise the humidity and keep the plant warm.
• Leaves turn yellow while the potting mix stays very wet and the roots become soft: Root rot is likely. Remove the plant from the pot, use a clean disinfected tool to cut rotten roots back to firm healthy tissue, throw away the rotten material and repot in fresh free-draining mix.

Maranta leuconeura ‘Fascinator’ is non-toxic to people and pets

• This plant is non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
• Chewing a large amount can still cause an upset stomach.
• If a large amount is eaten and symptoms continue, contact a veterinarian or medical professional.

When was Maranta leuconeura first published, and what does it mean?

Maranta commemorates Bartolomeo Maranta. Leuconeura combines Greek leukos, meaning white, with neuron, meaning nerve, and refers to pale venation.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Maranta in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 2; Charles Plumier had proposed the name.

Charles Jacques Édouard Morren first described Maranta leuconeura in 1874 in Annales de l’Horticulture Belge et Étrangère, volume 24, page 323.