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Calathea 'Elger Grass'

calathea 'Elger Grass'

A tropical, evergreen, clump-forming perennial, grown as a foliage houseplant. Long, slender and leathery dark green leaves, purple beneath, have distinctive wavy edges, During the day the leaves are held out; at night they move to an upright position, showing the purple undersides

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1A

Botanical details

Family: Marantaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Calathea are evergreen rhizomatous perennials forming clumps of elliptic leaves, often attractively patterned; spikes of small flowers are seldom produced in cultivation
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow indoors in a peat-free houseplant compost with added perlite, in bright, indirect light. Water to keep the compost moist but not soggy, and apply a general liquid fertiliser monthly from spring to autumn. Provide high humidity by placing the container on a tray of moist gravel or pebbles. Reduce watering to a minimum in winter, and keep above 15°C. See Calathea cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by division of clumps in late spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Sub-tropical
Bedding
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free, but sun or overly bright light may cause leaf scorch and dry air may turn leaf edges brittle and brown

Get involved

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