Maranta leuconeura (Prayer Plant) – Patterned Evergreen Houseplant (12cm Pot)

Maranta leuconeura 'Lemon Lime', better known as the Prayer Plant, is grown for its striking foliage: bold lime green and yellow striped leaves marked with a deep green herringbone pattern along the midrib, with purple-tinted undersides.

It is as interesting to watch as it is to look at. Each evening the leaves fold upwards, opening flat again by morning, a movement called nyctinasty that gives the plant its common name. It stays low-growing and spreading, making it a good choice for a shelf, windowsill or coffee table rather than a floor specimen.

This plant arrives established in a 1 litre nursery pot (12cm diameter), ready to display as it is or move into a decorative cover pot. It is an indoor plant only and needs a warm room all year round, out of direct sun, which scorches the leaves; a spot with medium to low, indirect light suits it best. Grow it in a well-draining, peat-free houseplant compost, kept consistently moist through the growing season.

Maranta likes higher humidity and soft water, so the leaf edges can brown quickly in dry air or hard tap water. Standing the pot on a pebble tray or misting occasionally, and watering with room-temperature or rainwater where possible, keeps it looking its best. Otherwise it is an easy, low-maintenance plant that holds its colour year-round.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Prayer Plant, Lemon Lime Prayer Plant
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: Approx. 20-30cm tall and 20-40cm wide (variety dependent)
• Growth Habit: Low-growing, spreading, clump-forming
• Perfect For: Shelves, windowsills, bathrooms, living rooms, office desks
• Foliage: Lime green and yellow striped leaves with deep green herringbone markings and purple-tinted undersides
• Planting Position: Medium to low, indirect light; keep out of direct sun
• Soil Type: Well-draining, peat-free houseplant compost, kept consistently moist
• Hardiness: Tender, indoor plant only; needs a warm room all year and should not be exposed to temperatures below about 15°C
• Maintenance: Low maintenance but prefers high humidity and soft, room-temperature water, as leaf edges can brown in dry air or hard tap water
• Seasonal Interest: Evergreen foliage all year round
• Type: Evergreen Houseplant