Maranta leuconeura, commonly known as the Prayer Plant, is a tropical evergreen perennial grown for its colourful, patterned foliage. Its leaves naturally lift and fold upwards during the evening, giving the plant its familiar common name.

The oval leaves are typically dark green with contrasting markings radiating from the central vein. Their undersides can be purple or grey-green, adding another layer of colour as the leaves move between day and night.

Key features

• Evergreen tropical foliage plant
• Distinctive patterned leaves
• Leaves rise and fold upwards at night
• Clump-forming, spreading growth
• Enjoys warm and humid conditions
• Ideal for houseplant displays and tropical terrariums

Plant size

• Height: around 20cm to 30cm
• Spread: around 30cm to 60cm

Other common names

• Prayer Plant
• Herringbone Plant

Why does a Prayer Plant move its leaves?

Maranta leuconeura displays a natural movement known as nyctinasty. Its leaves tend to sit flatter during the day before lifting and folding together as light levels fall.

The movement can make the contrasting undersides of the leaves more visible in the evening and is one of the most distinctive features of the plant.

Flowers

Small tubular flowers may appear during summer. These range from white to pale purple, but flowering indoors can be irregular.

The main attraction of Maranta leuconeura is its patterned foliage rather than its flowers.

How to grow Maranta leuconeura

• Grow in bright, indirect light
• Protect from strong direct sunlight
• Provide warm temperatures and good humidity
• Use a humus-rich but free-draining growing medium
• Keep away from cold draughts
• Lower light can reduce the strength of the leaf markings

Watering your Prayer Plant

• Keep the growing medium lightly and consistently moist
• Water when the surface begins to dry
• Avoid allowing the root ball to dry out completely
• Do not leave the roots sitting in water
• Use rainwater where possible
• Reduce watering slightly during winter

Growing Prayer Plants in a terrarium

The compact growth and preference for humidity make Maranta leuconeura suitable for larger tropical terrariums and planted vivariums. Its patterned leaves provide strong contrast against ferns, mosses and plain green foliage.

Allow enough room for the plant to spread sideways. Its rhizomatous growth gradually forms a wider clump rather than developing into a tall plant.

Do you want a tropical plant that changes throughout the day? Maranta leuconeura combines colourful foliage with its characteristic nightly leaf movement, making it an interesting feature in both terrariums and indoor plant collections.