Ctenanthe burle-marxii (Fishbone plant) — H35-40 cm | Pot Ø14 cm
- Regular price
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€32,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€32,95
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do the leaves of my Ctenanthe lift up in the evening? This is nyctinasty, a natural daily movement in the Marantaceae family and a sign of a healthy plant.
How can I prevent brown edges on a Ctenanthe? By maintaining 60% humidity in the air and watering with low-limescale, filtered water or water that has been left to stand for 24 hours.
SHIPPING & PACKAGING
Shipping within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 business days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection to ensure the plant arrives in perfect condition
- Parcel tracking sent by email as soon as shipped
- Free delivery on orders over €50
48H QUALITY GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us within 48 hours at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- Free replacement or full refund
- No return necessary – we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage related to transport, severely weakened plant upon arrival, preparation errors.
CARE TIPS UPON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack immediately and inspect your plant
- Let it acclimatize 24-48h in a bright spot without direct sunlight
- Check soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting
- Avoid heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🦴 Fishbone pattern • 💜 Deep purple undersides • 🙏 Plant that folds up at night • 🌑 Partial shade • 💨 High humidity • 🐾 Non-toxic
The Ctenanthe burle-marxii, known as the fishbone plant, has light green leaves marked with dark green chevrons extending from the central vein, with a deep purple underside. A species native to the humid understory of eastern Brazil, it joins the Calathea & Maranta collection in the catalogue.
Its distinctive feature is the regularity of this design: the chevrons repeat in alternating bands on either side of the midrib, almost like a printed pattern. The plant is named after Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, who introduced it into his modernist gardens.
Which Ctenanthe should you choose?
The Ctenanthe genus comes in very different foliage types and sizes — here are the Ctenanthes in the catalogue:
- Ctenanthe burle-marxii (this plant) — dark green chevrons on a light green background, in a nursery pot. The most graphic pattern.
- Ctenanthe burle-marxii en pot céramique — the same variety delivered in a handcrafted decorative pot (H25 cm | Pot Ø12 cm). The ready-to-gift format.
- Ctenanthe 'Amagris' — oval silver-grey-green leaves with dark veins (H35-40 cm | Pot Ø14 cm). The most understated variety.
- Ctenanthe setosa — large silver leaves striped with dark green (H60 cm | Pot Ø17 cm). The most imposing variety.
- Ctenanthe oppenheimiana — long cream-variegated leaves with purple undersides (H70 cm | Pot Ø17 cm). The most slender variety.
Light & location
An understory plant, burle-marxii lives in the shade of trees in its natural habitat. Direct sun fades the chevrons and burns the edges within a few hours, while light that is too low erases the pattern's contrast on new leaves.
- Light: indirect light to partial shade — north-facing window, or east- and west-facing windows with a sheer curtain.
- Location: bathroom, bedroom, office, living room away from windows — away from radiators and drafts.
- Temperature: 18 to 26 °C — minimum 15 °C, highly sensitive to cold.
- Soil type: light and humus-rich—potting soil for green plants mixed with coco coir and perlite.
The daily movement of the leaves is a good indicator: a plant that stops folding its foliage in the evening generally signals insufficient light or water stress.
Watering & care
The substrate should remain slightly moist without ever waterlogging the roots. Air humidity is what mainly determines the condition of the leaf edges, while a well-structured, well-draining base allows frequent watering without risk.
- Watering: regular—as soon as the surface of the substrate begins to dry, approximately twice a week in spring and summer, and once a week in winter.
- Water: strictly non-calcareous—filtered, rainwater, or water left to stand for 24 hours, at room temperature.
- Humidity: at least 60%—mist daily, or place the pot on a bed of moist clay pebbles.
- Drainage: essential—use a pot with drainage holes and empty the saucer after each watering.
- Foliage: regular dusting with a damp cloth refreshes the contrast of the chevrons.
- Fertilizer: liquid fertilizer for green plants, diluted by half, once a month from April to September only.
Leaf edges curling inward signal air that is too dry, well before browning appears: this is the first sign to watch for.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
The chevron pattern reads like a textile print and is enough to liven up a corner without any other decoration. The plant spreads wider rather than growing taller, making it ideal for open surfaces.
- For a shared humid corner, pair it with a Calathea orbifolia with broad striped leaves—similar humidity needs, with two complementary foliage scales.
- For a duo of contrasting patterns, place a Ctenanthe 'Amagris' with solid gray foliage alongside it—same genus, same spreading habit, one bold and the other understated.
- To make the chevrons stand out, place the pot inside a matte white Gabriel decorative pot Ø14 cm with a honeycomb texture—the neutral white leaves the leaf pattern center stage.
- To prolong the purple on the undersides, the Mayk Lead anthracite decorative pot Ø20 cm with a brushed metal finish creates a dark backdrop that makes the light green stand out.
This size fits on a low cabinet, console table, or bathtub ledge; the purple undersides are only visible when the leaves lift at the end of the day.
Verdeia tips
- Group it with other tropical plants: several plants placed together create a humid microclimate through evapotranspiration. This is the most effective way to maintain the 60% humidity it needs, much more so than occasional misting.
- Divide the clump when repotting: the plant spreads through offsets emerging from the base. Separating them in spring with a few roots allows you to grow a second plant and keep the parent plant well aerated.
- Always switch to low-limescale water: Marantaceae accumulate limescale and fluoride at the tips of their leaves, causing irreversible brown edges. Filtered water or water left to stand for 24 hours is enough to prevent this.
Technical characteristics
- Botanical name: Ctenanthe burle-marxii
- Common name: Fishbone prayer plant
- Family: Marantaceae
- Origin: humid understory forests of eastern Brazil
- Size on delivery: H35-40 cm | Pot Ø14 cm
- Mature height: up to 50 cm indoors, spreading widthwise
- Light: indirect light to partial shade, never direct sun
- Watering: regular, with the substrate kept slightly moist
- Water: low in limescale, filtered or left to stand
- Humidity: 60% minimum, daily misting
- Soil type: light, humus-rich, and well-draining
- Growth: moderate, spreading clumping habit
- Foliage: evergreen, dark green herringbone patterns on a light green background, purple undersides
- Care: demanding in terms of humidity
- Toxicity: 🐾 non-toxic to pets and children
- Decorative style: Tropical / Urban jungle / Graphic
Each plant is unique: the number of leaves, the width of the herringbone patterns, and the intensity of the purple naturally vary depending on growing light.
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?
Shipping is done within 48 business hours, with tracked delivery within 2 to 5 business days. Delivery costs €5.60 — free for orders over €50. You will receive a tracking link as soon as the package is shipped.
What to do upon receiving my plant?
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 to 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.