Maranta ‘Rabbit’s Foot’

Maranta 'Rabbit's Foot' (Maranta leuconeura) is a low spreading indoor plant grown entirely for its foliage: soft green leaves marked with darker blotches either side of the midrib and traced with fine veining. It stays under 300mm tall and around 400mm across, which suits a shelf, a hanging pot or the front row of a plant grouping. The leaves lift and fold upward at night, then open again by morning.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage that does all the work. The patterned markings hold interest every day of the year, which matters in a plant that never flowers usefully indoors.
• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can sit at floor level or on a low table without worry.
• It likes the shady spot. Filtered or indirect light suits it, so it fills the corner where sun lovers sulk.
• Small enough for anywhere. At 300mm by 400mm it works on a desk, a bathroom shelf or a bookcase without crowding.

Where it works best

Indoors. This is where it belongs, in any climate. Bathrooms and kitchens are particularly good because the extra humidity keeps the leaf edges clean.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. Outdoors it needs a warm, sheltered, frost free position in a tropical or subtropical garden, in full shade rather than sun.

Growing Maranta 'Rabbit's Foot' in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light or filtered shade. Direct sun bleaches and scorches the markings within days. It is frost tender, so treat it as an indoor plant everywhere outside the tropics and subtropics.

Soil. A quality indoor mix that holds moisture but still drains, in a pot with a drainage hole. Marantas resent both drying out and sitting in water.

Water and humidity. Keep the mix evenly moist through the warm months, easing back in winter. Dry indoor air is the main cause of crisp brown edges, so group plants together or stand the pot on a tray of damp pebbles.

Feeding and grooming. A half strength liquid fertiliser monthly through spring and summer is enough. Trim damaged leaves at the base, and divide the clump every two or three years to keep it dense.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown as tubestock, so your plant will be young: a small clump of a few well marked leaves rather than a full pot. Potted into a 150mm to 200mm container it fills out over a season or two, and dividing it later is straightforward.

Marantas are soft leaved and can look tired after transit, with some folding or edge damage that recovers once the plant settles. Give it a bright indirect spot, water it in, and expect new leaves within a month in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The best pet friendly plants for the home
• Browse pet friendly indoor plants
• How to keep your indoor plants alive

Common questions

Is it really safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Maranta is one of the genuinely non toxic indoor plants, so a chewed leaf is a nuisance rather than an emergency. It is a sensible choice for a home where plants sit within reach.

Why are the leaf edges going brown and crisp?

Almost always dry air, sometimes combined with letting the mix dry out completely. Raise the humidity around the plant and keep the watering more even, and new leaves will come through clean.

Why do the leaves move at night?

The leaves fold upward after dark and open again in the morning, a natural daily rhythm in this genus. It is a sign the plant is comfortable, not a problem.

How much light is too little?

It copes with quite low light, but growth stalls and the markings fade in a room with no natural light at all. Aim for a position bright enough to read in comfortably during the day.