Calathea vs. Maranta vs. Stromanthe vs. Ctenanthe: The Prayer Plant ID Guide

The 10-second visual test

Look at one mature leaf — the upper surface, the underside, and how the plant sits in its pot. Three features sort the four genera with high reliability.

• 1Underside is bright magenta-pink and the upper leaf has cream and pink stripes? → Stromanthe (almost certainly 'Triostar').
• 2Leaf is low and flat to the soil with red veins or dark blotches in two rows? → Maranta.
• 3Leaves are upright, narrow, lance-shaped with silver banding across the upper surface? → Ctenanthe.
• 4Leaves are oval to round with bold painted patterns (silver, dark green, pink lines), growing in a tight clump? → Calathea (now Goeppertia for most species).

What they all have in common: the prayer movement

Every plant in the Marantaceae family performs nyctinasty — a daily leaf-folding movement driven by changes in turgor pressure at the base of the leaf. As light fades in the evening, the leaves fold upward into a vertical "praying hands" position; at dawn they unfurl flat again. You can hear the larger Calathea leaves rustle as they move at dusk if the room is quiet.

If your plant doesn't fold its leaves at night, it's probably not in the prayer plant family at all — and you should re-check the ID against our photo identification guide. The behaviour is so reliable that it's the single fastest test for family-level identification.

Calathea — the painted-leaf clumping plant (now mostly Goeppertia)

What most people call "Calathea" was reclassified into the genus Goeppertia in 2012, but the old name persists in nurseries and care guides everywhere — including this one, where we use both. Calathea/Goeppertia is the largest and most diverse of the four genera, with around 200 species, and it's the one most often confused with Maranta because both have patterned leaves.

The signature features: leaves are oval to round, often quite large (20–30 cm), with dramatic painted patterns in silver, dark green, cream, pink, or burgundy. The plant grows in a tight clump from a basal crown, sending leaves up on long petioles — there's no creeping or trailing. Many species have a burgundy or purple underside. New leaves emerge tightly rolled like a cigar from the centre of the clump.

• ·Leaf shape: oval to round, broad, often 15–30 cm long.
• ·Leaf pattern: bold painted markings in silver, cream, pink, dark green.
• ·Underside: often pale green to deep burgundy, depending on species.
• ·Growth habit: tight clump from a basal crown — does not trail or creep.
• ·Common species: orbifolia, ornata, lancifolia, makoyana, white star, medallion, warscewiczii, roseopicta.
• ·Genus (formal): Goeppertia (was Calathea until 2012).

Maranta — the low flat one with red veins

Maranta leuconeura is the original "prayer plant" and the genus the family is named after. Its leaves grow much closer to the soil than a Calathea's, often spreading out flat or even creeping along the surface — Maranta has a stoloniferous habit, meaning it sends out runners that root and form new plants nearby.

The two cultivars you'll see are 'Erythroneura' (the red-veined herringbone plant — dark green leaves with crimson veins and a yellow midrib) and 'Kerchoveana' (the rabbit's foot prayer plant — light green leaves with two rows of dark blotches that look like little footprints). Both have a pale silvery-green underside, never magenta. If your low-growing prayer plant has bright pink underside leaves, it's not a Maranta.

• ·Leaf shape: oval, 8–15 cm, lying flat or low to the soil.
• ·Leaf pattern: red herringbone veins ('Erythroneura') or dark green blotches in two rows ('Kerchoveana').
• ·Underside: pale silvery-green — never magenta or bright pink.
• ·Growth habit: low and spreading, sends out stolons (runners) along the soil.
• ·Common species: Maranta leuconeura — the only species widely sold.
• ·Easiest of the four to keep — most forgiving of low humidity and tap water.

Stromanthe — the magenta-undersided one

Stromanthe sanguinea 'Triostar' (sometimes 'Tricolor') is the cultivar you'll actually find in shops, and it's unmistakable once you've seen it: long lance-shaped leaves variegated in cream, pale pink, and dark green on top, with a brilliant magenta-pink underside that flashes when the leaves fold up at night. The whole plant looks like it was hand-painted by someone who'd had three coffees.

Stromanthe grows more upright than Maranta and clumps more loosely than Calathea. The leaves are narrower and longer than a Calathea's, and the variegation is irregular — every leaf is a slightly different mix of green, pink, and white panels. The species name 'sanguinea' refers to that bloody-red underside, which is the single most reliable ID feature.

• ·Leaf shape: long lance-shaped, 15–30 cm, narrower than Calathea.
• ·Leaf pattern: irregular cream, pink, and green variegation on top.
• ·Underside: bright magenta-pink — the diagnostic feature.
• ·Growth habit: upright loose clump, 60–90 cm tall at maturity.
• ·Common cultivar: 'Triostar' (also sold as 'Tricolor'). Plain green Stromanthe sanguinea exists but is rarely sold.
• ·Genus: Stromanthe — close relative of Calathea but with consistent magenta underside.

Ctenanthe — the bushy one with silver bands

Ctenanthe (pronounced ten-AN-thee — the C is silent) is the least-known of the four but increasingly common in shops. The two cultivars you'll see are Ctenanthe burle-marxii (small, lance-shaped grey-green leaves with dark green chevron banding, named for the Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx) and Ctenanthe lubbersiana (larger leaves with creamy yellow blotches over green, sometimes sold as "Never Never Plant").

Ctenanthe grows more upright and bushy than the other three genera — it sends up multiple stems with leaves arranged along the stem rather than emerging from a basal crown. The plant tends to be wider than tall, sprawling outward over time rather than clumping or creeping. Underside is usually a soft burgundy-purple, less vivid than Stromanthe.

• ·Leaf shape: lance-shaped, 10–25 cm, narrow with pointed tips.
• ·Leaf pattern: silver-grey banding (burle-marxii) or creamy yellow blotches (lubbersiana).
• ·Underside: soft burgundy-purple — duller than Stromanthe's vivid magenta.
• ·Growth habit: upright bushy, leaves on stems rather than from basal crown.
• ·Common species: burle-marxii (small chevron bands), lubbersiana (yellow-blotched 'Never Never Plant').
• ·Genus: Ctenanthe — about 15 species, mostly Brazilian.

Underside colour — the single fastest ID

If you're holding the plant and want a one-second answer, flip a leaf over.

• ·Bright magenta-pink underside → Stromanthe 'Triostar'.
• ·Pale silvery-green underside → Maranta.
• ·Soft burgundy-purple underside, narrow leaf → Ctenanthe.
• ·Burgundy underside on a broad oval leaf with bold patterns → Calathea (often 'Rose Painted' / roseopicta or ornata).
• ·Pale green underside on a broad oval leaf → Calathea (orbifolia, white star, lancifolia).

Side-by-side care differences

All four genera share the same broad needs: moderate to bright indirect light (no direct sun), consistent moisture, high humidity, and a peat-based well-draining mix. But the specifics differ enough that knowing the genus matters.

• ·Calathea: most demanding. Wants 60%+ humidity, distilled or rainwater (sensitive to fluoride and chlorine), and consistently moist (not wet) soil. Crispy brown leaf edges = water quality or humidity problem.
• ·Maranta: most forgiving. Tolerates 40–50% humidity and tap water in most regions. Wants soil to dry slightly between waterings — more drought-tolerant than the others.
• ·Stromanthe: somewhere between Calathea and Maranta. Appreciates 50%+ humidity and filtered water. Tolerates slightly brighter light than Calathea — variegation needs the light to develop.
• ·Ctenanthe: similar to Stromanthe — 50%+ humidity, tolerates filtered tap water. Slightly more drought-tolerant than Calathea.

Why crispy edges happen on all four

The single most common complaint with any prayer plant family member is crispy brown leaf edges. The four causes, in roughly the order they're likely:

Low humidity is the biggest cause — typical home air at 30–40% humidity is too dry for these tropical understory plants. A humidifier (not misting, which doesn't move the needle) is the single biggest fix. Inconsistent watering — letting the soil dry out, then soaking it — also produces edge browning. These plants want consistent moisture without sitting in wet feet.

Water quality is a less obvious cause. Calathea in particular is sensitive to fluoride, chlorine, and chloramine in tap water; switching to rainwater, distilled, or filtered water often resolves persistent edge browning. Finally, salt buildup from fertiliser causes edge browning over time — flushing the pot with plain water every 2–3 months prevents it. See our calathea care guide for the full crispy-leaf diagnostic.

All four are pet-safe

One genuinely good piece of news: all four genera in the prayer plant family are non-toxic to cats and dogs according to the ASPCA. Marantaceae is one of the safest plant families to keep around pets — see our pet-safe houseplant guide for other good options if you're building a cat-proof collection.

Pets sometimes nibble on the leaves out of curiosity, which can damage the plant but won't harm the animal. If the chewing becomes a habit, the usual deterrents (plant placement, citrus spray on nearby surfaces, a separate "cat grass" pot) work as well here as for any other plant.

Common nursery mislabels — what to look out for

The Marantaceae family has been taxonomically reshuffled several times in the last decade, which means nursery labels are often outdated or wrong.

• ·Many "Calathea" species are now formally Goeppertia — both names appear on labels. Both refer to the same plants.
• ·Stromanthe 'Triostar' is sometimes mislabelled as "Calathea Triostar" or "Calathea Sanguinea". The magenta underside settles it: it's a Stromanthe.
• ·Ctenanthe burle-marxii is sometimes sold as "Calathea Fishbone" — but the upright, bushy growth habit and the silent C give it away.
• ·Maranta 'Erythroneura' is sometimes called "Red Prayer Plant" or "Herringbone Plant" without the genus name at all. The flat, low growth and red herringbone veins confirm it.
• ·When in doubt, photograph a mature leaf top and underside, and run it through a plant ID app. All four genera are well-represented in app training data.

Choosing the right one for your home

If you want the easiest member of the family, pick a Maranta — it tolerates more neglect, lower humidity, and tap water that would crisp a Calathea within weeks. If you want the most dramatic foliage, Stromanthe 'Triostar' is unbeatable for variegation, and the magenta underside flashing at night is a small daily pleasure. Calathea/Goeppertia gives you the widest cultivar variety but demands the most attention. Ctenanthe sits comfortably in the middle, with a more sculptural upright shape than the other three.

All four want bright indirect light, never direct sun, and reward a humidifier far more than they reward misting. Pair any of them with a hygrometer near the plant and a humidifier, and the genus you choose matters less than the conditions you give them.