A maranta stays low and spreads sideways on trailing stems. A calathea grows upright in a clump, with each leaf on its own tall stalk. Check how the plant grows and you have your answer.
Both belong to the prayer plant family, Marantaceae. Both fold their leaves up at night. Both are safe for cats and dogs. The maranta is the easier plant.
The quick comparison
| Maranta | Calathea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common name | Prayer plant | Calathea |
| Botanical name | Maranta leuconeura | Goeppertia, once called Calathea |
| Growth | Low, spreading, and trailing | Upright clump |
| Height | 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in) | 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 ft) |
| Leaves | Oval, 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long | Round, oval, or long and wavy, by type |
| Pattern | Dark blotches or bright veins in a fishbone layout | Stripes, rings, and brush marks, different on each type |
| Stems | Jointed, with nodes | No nodes. Leaf stalks rise from the soil. |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings in water, or division | Division only |
| Humidity | Above average | High |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Fussy |
| Pet safe | Yes | Yes |
Check the growth habit
A maranta creeps. Its stems grow out and down, so it suits a hanging pot or a wide, shallow bowl. The stems have joints. Each joint is a node, and roots can grow from it.
A calathea stands up. Every leaf has its own stalk that comes from the soil. There is no trailing stem and no node. Many kinds reach knee height.
Check the leaves
Maranta leaves are oval and all about the same size. There are three kinds in most stores.
- The red prayer plant has red veins in a fishbone layout.
- The rabbit tracks prayer plant has pairs of dark blotches on each side of the middle vein.
- The ‘Lemon Lime’ prayer plant has lime green veins.
Calathea leaves vary far more. Each kind has its own shape and pattern.
- The rattlesnake plant has long, wavy leaves with dark spots.
- Calathea orbifolia has wide, round leaves with silver stripes.
- The peacock plant has a feather pattern.
- ‘Medallion’ has round leaves with rings of green.
Many calatheas have purple undersides. So does the red prayer plant.
Why both are called prayer plants
Plants in this family raise their leaves at dusk and lower them at dawn. The raised leaves look like hands held together.
A joint at the base of each leaf does the work. It swells and shrinks with the light. You can hear the leaves rustle as they move in a quiet room.
“Prayer plant” as a common name belongs to maranta. Stores use it for calatheas too, which is where the mix-up starts.
Why calathea has a new name
Botanists moved most houseplant calatheas into the genus Goeppertia in 2012, after DNA studies. The tag in the store still says calathea, and so does everyone else. Both names point to the same plants.
Does the care differ?
The basics match. The calathea is less forgiving.
| Maranta | Calathea | |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Medium. No direct sun. | Medium. No direct sun. |
| Water | When the top 2 cm (1 in) of soil is dry | When the top 2 cm (1 in) is dry. Never let it dry out. |
| Water type | Rainwater, distilled, or filtered is best | Rainwater, distilled, or filtered is best |
| Humidity | Above average | High. Dry air crisps the leaf edges. |
| Temperature | Keep above 15°C (60°F) | Keep above 15°C (60°F) |
| After a dry spell | Curls, then recovers | Crisps, and the damage stays |
Both react to salts and fluoride in tap water with brown edges. Letting tap water sit out overnight does not remove them.
In a home with dry winter air, a calathea needs a humidifier. A maranta copes better. Read how to increase humidity for houseplants in winter and why houseplant leaf tips turn brown.
Propagation
This is the biggest practical difference.
A maranta roots from cuttings. Cut a stem just below a node and stand it in water. Roots grow from the node.
A calathea has no stems to cut. Divide the clump when you repot in spring. Each piece needs its own roots and a few leaves.
The cousins: stromanthe and ctenanthe
Two more plants in the family show up in stores.
Stromanthe ‘Triostar’ has long leaves splashed with cream and pink, with hot pink undersides. It grows upright like a calathea and is as fussy.
The never never plant, a ctenanthe, has long leaves with a fishbone pattern on tall stalks. It handles drier air than a calathea.
In my house
My calathea crisps up. Winters here in Armstrong are dry. My whole-house humidifier cannot keep up, and I struggle to hold 35% humidity.
The prayer plant is the family favorite. My kids love to watch the leaves fold up at night, and so do I.
Which one to buy
Buy a maranta if this is your first plant from the family, if your air is dry, or if you want a hanging pot.
Buy a calathea if you have a humidifier, soft water, and a spot with steady medium light. The patterns are worth the work.
Read the full prayer plant care guide and the calathea care guide.
Quick answers
Is a calathea a prayer plant? It is in the prayer plant family. The common name “prayer plant” belongs to maranta.
Which is easier, calathea or maranta? Maranta.
Do both fold their leaves at night? Yes. A plant that stops moving needs more light.
Are calathea and maranta safe for cats? Yes. The ASPCA lists both as non-toxic to cats and dogs.