Calathea rufibarba (Velvet calathea) — H55-60 cm | Pot Ø17 cm
- Regular price
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€38,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€38,95
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Frequently asked questions
Which Calathea is easiest to care for? Calathea rufibarba is one of the most tolerant species in the genus, as its narrow leaves withstand dry air better than those of varieties with large, round leaves.
How tall does Calathea rufibarba grow? Indoors, Calathea rufibarba forms a soft, arching clump that can reach 80 cm in height.
Shipping & packaging
Shipped within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 working days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection so your plant arrives in perfect condition
- Tracking link sent by email as soon as your parcel ships
- Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page
ZEN ARRIVAL GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us promptly at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- We will find the right solution for your situation
- No return needed — we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage in transit, plants severely weakened on arrival, and order preparation errors.
CARE TIPS ON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack your plant immediately and inspect it
- Let it acclimatize for 24-48h in a bright spot out of direct sunlight
- Check the soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting, if needed
- Keep it away from heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe the leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🌿 Long, wavy leaves • 💜 Velvety purple undersides • 🌥️ Indirect light to partial shade • 💧 Humid air • 🐾 Non-toxic • 📏 H55-60 cm | Pot Ø17 cm
Calathea rufibarba, or velvet calathea, has long, narrow leaves with wavy edges, glossy green on top and velvety purple underneath. Native to the humid forests of Brazil, it gets its Latin name, “red beard,” from the fine down covering its stems and leaf undersides. Among the Calatheas in the catalog, it is the one whose foliage is as enjoyable to touch as it is to look at.
Delivered as a dense clump measuring 55 to 60 cm, it forms a flexible, trailing bush. Like all Calatheas, its leaves rise in the evening and lower in the morning, revealing their purple undersides at the end of the day.
Which Calathea should you choose?
Thirteen potted Calatheas in the catalog, with very different foliage:
- Calathea rufibarba (this plant) — long, wavy, glossy green leaves with velvety undersides and stems. The most supple and the softest to the touch.
- Calathea warscewiczii — velvety dark green leaves with a light midrib, purple undersides. The most velvety on top.
- Calathea zebrina — velvety foliage striped in deep green (H80 cm | Pot Ø19 cm). The tallest.
- Calathea orbifolia — very large round leaves striped with silvery green. The most imposing.
- Calathea Medallion — round leaves with green, silver and purple patterns. The most colorful.
- Calathea makoyana — peacock feather pattern on a light background. The most graphic.
- Calathea ornata — dark green leaves finely striped with pink. The most romantic.
- Calathea ornata 'Whitestar' — white and pink stripes on a green background (H50 cm | Pot Ø19 cm). The brightest.
- Calathea majestica 'Princeps' — pink stripes on large leaves, purple undersides. The most regal.
- Calathea 'Triostar' — variegated green, cream and pink foliage (H70 cm | Pot Ø19 cm). The most spectacular.
- Calathea 'Fusion White' — asymmetrical cream-white and green patches. The rarest.
- Calathea lancifolia 'Insignis' — narrow, spotted leaves with wavy edges. The most slender.
- Calathea crocata — dark foliage and bright orange bracts. The only one cultivated for its flowers.
Rufibarba is one of the most tolerant species in the genus: its narrow leaves tolerate dry air better than the large, round leaves of orbifolia or Medallion.
Light & placement
It grows in the understory in its natural habitat: soft, filtered light suits it better than a sunny windowsill. Direct sun bleaches and curls its leaves within a few days.
- Light: indirect light, from bright to medium — east- or north-facing window, or 2 m from a curtained south-facing window.
- Placement: bright bathroom, bedroom, living room — away from radiators and drafts.
- Temperature: 18 to 26 °C, never below 15 °C.
- Soil type: light, humus-rich houseplant potting mix, lightened with perlite.
Leaves that remain curled during the day indicate air that is too dry or too much direct light: move it closer to other plants or farther from the window.
Watering & care
Its substrate should stay moist without ever becoming waterlogged: testing the substrate with your finger indicates the right time, and brown leaf tips almost always reveal water that is too hard or air that is too dry.
- Watering: regular — as soon as the top 2 centimeters are dry, approximately once or twice a week in spring and summer, less often in winter.
- Water: low in limescale — filtered, rainwater or left to stand for 24 hours, at room temperature.
- Humidity: 50 to 60% — pot placed on a bed of damp clay pebbles, or plant grouped with others.
- Foliage: do not mist directly — the fuzz on the underside retains water and may leave marks.
- Fertilizer: liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength, once a month from April to September.
To increase humidity without wetting the velvety foliage, a tray of damp clay pebbles is better than a mister.
Decor ideas & plant combinations
Its flexible, trailing habit softens a corner or low piece of furniture, and several plants grouped together create the humid air it enjoys, provided you find the right balance between light and humidity.
- For a jungle corner, pair it with a 'Green Lady' Boston fern — the same humidity requirements, with fine, airy foliage contrasting with its long leaves.
- To play with purple, place a Maranta 'Fascinator' with red veins next to it — same botanical family, same evening leaf movement.
- For graphic contrast, add a Philodendron 'Birkin' with fine white stripes — rigid, upright leaves contrast with its soft waves.
- To enhance the pot, choose the taupe Capi Nature Groove pot — its vertical grooves and warm tone complement the glossy green foliage.
Placed up high, on a shelf or console table, it displays the purple undersides of its trailing leaves.
Verdeia tips
- Plan ahead before you go away: it does not tolerate dry substrate for several days in a row. A watering wick or a tray of clay pebbles is enough to go away for a week on vacation.
- Repot in a light mix: in spring, every two years, in a pot only slightly larger, with a lightweight, aerated potting mix amended with perlite that stays moist without compacting.
- Cut damaged leaves at the base: a browned leaf will not turn green again. Cutting it flush with the substrate makes room for new shoots, which emerge rolled up from the center of the clump.
Technical features
- Botanical name: Goeppertia rufibarba (syn. Calathea rufibarba)
- Common name: Velvet calathea
- Family: Marantaceae
- Origin: humid forests of Brazil
- Size on delivery: H55-60 cm | Pot Ø17 cm
- Growth habit: dense clump, soft, trailing leaves
- Mature height: up to 80 cm indoors
- Light: indirect light, never direct sun
- Watering: regular, keep the substrate cool
- Water: non-calcareous
- Humidity: 50 to 60%
- Temperature: 18 to 26 °C, minimum 15 °C
- Foliage: evergreen, glossy green on top, velvety purple underneath
- Care: requires humidity, one of the most tolerant Calatheas
- Toxicity: 🐾 non-toxic to animals and children
- Decorative style: Urban jungle / Tropical / Bohemian
Each plant is unique: the number of leaves, their waviness, and the intensity of the purple on their undersides naturally vary from one plant to another.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Orders ship within 48 working hours, with tracked delivery in 2 to 5 working days via DPD. Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page. You receive a tracking link as soon as your parcel leaves.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What should I do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.