Rattle Snake Plant

Rattlesnake plant (Goeppertia insignis, still widely sold as Calathea insignis) is grown for its long wavy leaves, marked with alternating dark and pale green blotches and flushed deep purple underneath. It forms a clump about 70cm tall and 60cm wide, so it suits a side table, a shelf or the floor beside a couch. It is also pet friendly, which narrows the field once a cat or dog lives in the house.

Why you'll love it

• Not toxic to cats or dogs. One of the few boldly patterned indoor plants you can put at floor level in a pet household without worrying.
• Patterned foliage that earns its keep. The markings look painted on, and the purple undersides show whenever the leaves lift.
• It moves. Leaves rise in the evening and lower again by morning, which is why the family is known as prayer plants.
• Made for shade. It performs in the low light corners where most patterned plants go plain and leggy.

Where it works best

Indoors, away from windows. Bright indirect light is ideal, but it holds its markings in dimmer positions than most foliage plants tolerate. Bathrooms suit it for the humidity.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A 200mm to 250mm pot holds a single clump. Outdoors it wants shade, shelter and no frost, which means tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens.

Grouped plantings. Set several in one trough or cluster the pots. Grouping raises the humidity around the leaves, which is what this plant wants.

Growing rattlesnake plant in Australia

Position and climate. Medium to bright indirect light indoors, never direct sun, which bleaches the pattern and scorches the edges. It is frost tender, so outside of tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens it belongs indoors year round.

Soil. A quality indoor potting mix with a handful of perlite or bark through it. It likes moisture but not stagnant water, so the pot must drain.

Water and humidity. This is the part that matters. Water when the top centimetre dries, keeping the mix evenly damp but never soggy, and empty the saucer. Brown crisp leaf edges usually mean dry air or heavily treated tap water, so lift humidity with a pebble tray and switch to filtered or rainwater.

Feed and grooming. Half strength liquid fertiliser monthly through spring and summer, none in winter. Cut spent leaves off at the base rather than trimming partway, and divide the clump every three or four years in spring.

What to expect when it arrives

This plant is grown in 125mm and 140mm pots sold in packs of ten, and 200mm pots sold in packs of six. The smaller sizes are young clumps of several leaves, best for planting a trough. The 200mm plants are fuller and ready for a decorative pot.

Calatheas travel less easily than most indoor plants, so expect some curled or tired leaves on arrival. Water the day they land, keep them out of draughts, and they usually recover within a week or two, with new leaves in four to six weeks. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Pet friendly indoor plants for Australian homes
• Browse all pet friendly indoor plants
• More plants for low light rooms

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. Calatheas are not toxic to cats or dogs, so this is a sound choice for a floor level pot or a low shelf. Chewing still upsets a stomach, as any plant material will.

Why are the leaf edges going brown and crisp?

Dry air or salts in the water, and occasionally both. Raise the humidity by grouping plants or standing the pot on a pebble tray, and switch to filtered or rainwater if your tap water is heavily treated.

How much light does it actually need?

Medium to bright indirect light gives the strongest markings, though it copes in dimmer rooms than most patterned plants. Keep it out of direct sun, which fades the pattern quickly.