If youre after a houseplant that will really turn heads, calathea is the one for you. Some of the most beautiful tropical plants in the world are in this genus. They have boldly striped leaves in a wide range of bright colors.
Calathea are native to Brazil and can also be found in southern Florida, Hawaii, and other tropical places. Because they are so common in these places, they have a reputation for being hard to take care of. It’s true that they can be picky, but if you know how to take care of them, this plant will make a great green friend that will grow quickly and give you beautiful leaves.
Plants with colorful variegated leaves are always eye-catching in gardens and indoor spaces. But some varieties take it a step further, combining striped foliage with a rich purple underside for dramatic contrast. These plants provide visual depth and sparkle, lighting up shady corners or softening bright spaces. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular striped leaf houseplants and perennials that showcase purple undersides.
Tradescantia Zebrina – The Stripe and Shimmer Queen
Perhaps the queen of purple-underside foliage is Tradescantia zebrina, also called inch plant or wandering Jew. This fast-growing houseplant displays stunning silver stripes traversing deep green leaves. Turn them over to reveal the vibrant magenta-purple undersides, which seem to glow. The striking contrast makes the leaves appear to shimmer as they catch the light.
Beyond the showy leaves, Tradescantia zebrina also bears small purple-blue flowers in summer However, it’s grown primarily for its fabulous foliage There are also some special varieties like ‘Quadricolor’ and ‘Burgundy’ with different leaf hues. Give Tradescantia moderate light indoors and keep the soil lightly moist. Prune back long stems to encourage bushiness.
Fittonia Albivenis – Nerve Plant with Purple Undersides
Another houseplant grown mainly for its leaves is Fittonia albivenis, or nerve plant. This species displays a netted vein pattern with main veins etched in white across small green leaves. Flip them over to see deep purple undersides. The contrast showcases the intricate veining dramatically.
Although nerve plant enjoys moist soil, it’s prone to fungal issues if overwatered. Provide bright indirect light indoors. Pruning encourages dense growth. There are some fun varieties too, like ‘Red Anne’ with pink-red veining over green.
Purple Heart Plant – Tradescantia Pallida
Closely related to T. zebrina is Tradescantia pallida, also known as purple heart plant. Solid rich purple leaves make a big statement indoors or out. Check the undersides to see they are a deeper royal purple hue. The leaves may fade to green in high light.
Purple heart thrives in partial sun and appreciates regular moisture. Pinch back stems to prevent legginess. It spreads as a groundcover in warm climates but also grows well in containers. ‘Red’ is a reddish-purple variety.
Persian Shield – Vibrant Tropical Color
Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) isn’t variegated but has intense solid purple foliage that almost glows. The undersides of the leaves are a deep eggplant purple slightly darker than the topsides. This tropical subshrub makes quite an impact in containers on patios or indoors.
Provide bright indirect light for your Persian shield plant. Prune occasionally to maintain compact growth. Although perennial in tropical zones, it’s often grown as an annual in temperate climates and propagated by cuttings each spring.
Caladiums – Vividly Patterned Leaves
Gardeners love caladiums for their dramatic foliage splashed in various vivid combinations of white, pink, red and greens. Turn the leaves over to find they are typically deep purple underneath, which heightens the color contrast. There are too many caladium varieties to name, but some feature purple undersides with white and pink variegation above like ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Carolyn Whorton’.
Give caladiums partial to full shade outdoors in moist, humus-rich soil. They thrive in containers too. Lift bulbs and store dormant over winter in temperate zones. Propagate by division.
This sampling of plants reveals the beauty and visual depth that foliage with striped topsides and purple undersides can provide in both indoor and outdoor spaces. Look for these contrasting plants to brighten up your home and garden with their vibrant hues and shimmering textures.
What is a calathea?
Calatheas are a popular group of houseplants that are known for having beautiful leaves that were once used to make crafts and wrap food. There are a huge number of different kinds of this plant, with some easier to grow than others.
Theyre sometimes known as prayer plants because of the unique movement of their leaves. Throughout the course of the day, these plants move their leaves around in a way known as nyctinasty. Its thought that this allows calatheas to capture as many of the suns rays as they can. The different colored leaves of this plant will rise up at night, with the leaf faces clumping together, and fall down during the day to get as much light as possible.
It’s hard to look away from this plant because of its beautiful patterns and colors. Even the underside of the leaves is interesting to look at.
People say that these plants are hard to take care of, which is why they are sometimes called “greenhouse plants.” Sensitive to cold, they thrive best when kept in the warm and moist environment of their homeland. Calachea can be happy in almost any home or place in the world as long as the right conditions are met. Don’t let this stop you.
The calathea at a glance:
Botanical name: Calathea.
Other names: Zebra plant, rattlesnake plant, peacock plant, cathedral plant, prayer plant.
Height and growth rate: Calathea has a moderately fast growth rate when the plant is happy. Within a year, it can be fully grown, and it can grow up to two feet tall before it stops growing.
Light: Needs indirect light. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves of this plant.
Watering: Calathea needs to be watered regularly, and to be kept moist but not soggy.
Soil: This plant needs slightly acidic soil, with a pH of around 6.5.
Temperature: For this tropical plant, its essential to maintain warmer temperatures.
Toxicity to pets: Non-toxic.
Plant parent level: A bit harder, so best for older plant parents. But it’s not impossible for younger plant parents to do too.
In the wild, there are more than 300 species of calathea, and their leaves have a huge range of beautiful colors, veins, and patterns. Some of them even grow eye-catching tropical flowers. These are the most popular and commonly found versions kept as houseplants:
This calathea plant is sometimes called the “zebra plant” because the tops of its leaves have striped green lines on them, and the bottoms are a bright, rich purple.
The undersides of Calathea makoyana leaves are light purple, and the tops of the leaves are green and white. This plant is often called the peacock plant.
• Calathea ornata: Youve definitely seen this plant on Instagram. Famous for its adorable pink and white striated leaves, its sometimes known as the femme fatale plant.
• Calathea crocata: This plant has plain leaves but bright lobster-colored flowers that stand upright. You may have heard of it as the “eternal flame.”
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FAQ
What are the striped leaves with purple undersides?
What is the hanging plant with purple underside?
What plant has green leaves with purple underneath?
Is Tradescantia Zebrina indoor or outdoor?
What plants have purple leaves?
Some purple-leafed plants are famous for their dark leaves. For example, the purple shamrock, tradescantias, and Persian shield are popular plants known for their dark purple leaves. Other ornamental plants like coleus, coral bells, and succulents have multi-colored leaves that can be purple and green.
Which houseplants have green leaves on top purple?
Here are some popular houseplants that have green leaves on top purple underneath. Other types of Calathea also have a purplish tinge on the undersides of their leaves but the Calathea Medallion is the Calathea where its purple undersides are the most noticeable.
What plants have green leaves on top?
Here we have another plant with green leaves on top that are purple underneath. The oyster plant is a popular houseplant because it’s relatively small and easy to care for, but its leaves are quite different than those of the calathea or tradescantia.
Which houseplants have green leaves?
In conclusion, there are many types of houseplants that have green leaves, but only some will feature purple underneath. There are four plants that I believe to be the best for this category: calathea medallion, tradescantia zebrina, oyster plant, and Calathea Rufibarba.