Rose Painted Calathea

Rose Painted Calathea 'Dottie' (Calathea roseopicta 'Dottie') is the darkest of the calatheas, with near black leaves ringed by a bright pink halo. It settles at about 60cm tall and wide, so it holds a shelf or side table for years. It is also non toxic to cats and dogs, which makes it one of the few dramatic indoor plants you can leave at floor level.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage close to black. New leaves open deep green and darken with age, so the pink markings read brighter on an established plant.
• Safe around pets. Calathea are not toxic to cats or dogs, so a chewed leaf is a nuisance rather than a trip to the vet.
• It stays the size you bought. It suits apartments, desks and bathroom benches where a larger plant would take over.
• Built for filtered light. It evolved on a rainforest floor, so a shaded room that starves most variegated plants suits it well.

Where it works best

Indoors anywhere in the country. Bathrooms and kitchens are the easiest rooms because the air is already humid. Elsewhere, group it with other plants or stand the pot on a tray of pebbles and water.

Pots and containers. Move it up to a 200mm pot with a drainage hole and it will sit there happily for two to three years. Glazed ceramic holds moisture more evenly than terracotta.

Balconies and courtyards. Outdoors it needs deep shade, shelter from wind and a frost free climate, which means tropical and subtropical gardens only.

Growing Rose Painted Calathea in Australia

Position and climate. Bright filtered light, never direct sun, which scorches the dark leaves and fades the pink. It is frost tender, so in cool temperate and Mediterranean regions treat it as an indoor plant year round.

Soil. A premium indoor mix opened up with perlite or coarse coir. It wants moisture at the roots without sitting wet, so tip the saucer out after watering.

Water and feed. Use rainwater or filtered water, since fluoride and chlorine are the usual cause of crisp brown edges. Keep the mix evenly damp in spring and summer, ease back in winter, and feed at half strength monthly through the warm months.

Grooming. There is no pruning to do. Cut tired leaves off at the base and repot every two to three years in spring, dividing the clump then if you want more plants.

What to expect when it arrives

This calathea is sold in packs of ten plants in 125mm pots. They arrive young and well rooted, the right size to pot on individually or to plant several together in one wide container for immediate fullness.

Leaves fold upward in transit and some may look creased on arrival. That is the plant's normal night time habit rather than damage, and it settles within a week in good light. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Browse the wider indoor plant range
• Compare other pet friendly indoor plants

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. Calathea are not toxic to cats or dogs, so this is a sound choice for a home with pets. Any animal can still upset itself on a mouthful of foliage, so discourage the habit.

Why are the leaf edges turning brown and crisp?

Almost always tap water or dry air. Switch to rainwater or filtered water, and lift the humidity with a pebble tray or by grouping pots together.

Why do the leaves lift at night?

Calathea move their leaves on a daily rhythm, raising them in the evening and lowering them by morning. It is a sign of a healthy plant, not a problem to fix.

Can I grow it outdoors?

Only in tropical and subtropical gardens, in full shade and out of the wind. Elsewhere it belongs inside, or in a pot you can move under cover.