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Calathea and Maranta are both called "prayer plants," both fold their leaves at night, and both want humidity and filtered water. The similarities end there — Calathea and Maranta are distinct genera that look, grow, and behave differently. If you're choosing one for a pet household, the ASPCA lists calathea as non-toxic at the genus level, but its Prayer Plant entry is a different species from Maranta (see pet toxicity). Here's how to tell them apart and which one to pick.
Why this comparison matters
The "prayer plant" label gets applied loosely to anything in the Marantaceae family that folds its leaves at dusk via a movement called nyctinasty. That includes both Maranta leuconeura (the original prayer plant) and plants sold under the Calathea name — which, to add taxonomy confusion, are mostly now classified under Goeppertia by current naming standards.
The loose label causes real problems for buyers. Someone picks up a "prayer plant" label at a garden center and searches for care information, then lands on guides that may or may not apply to what they actually bought. Maranta spreads horizontally and stays low. Calathea/Goeppertia grows upright. They need similar care overall, but not identical. And the visual identification difference — the signature red fishbone veins — is something every owner should know.
For pet households, the sources say different things about the two; see pet toxicity below.
What they are (botanically)
Calathea / Goeppertia: Most species once placed in Calathea now belong to Goeppertia Nees under current Kew POWO classification — a 2012 reclassification, published in Systematic Botany. POWO now accepts 246 Goeppertia species against 59 in Calathea. For example, what was Calathea makoyana is now Goeppertia makoyana (É.Morren) Borchs. and S.Suárez, native to Brazil (Espírito Santo) in a wet tropical biome. The ASPCA database still uses the old Calathea name for its non-toxicity listing, and plant tags often still use it too — so expect to see "Calathea" on a tag regardless.
Prayer plant: Maranta leuconeura É.Morren is a distinct species, native to Central and Eastern Brazil in a wet tropical biome, per Kew POWO. It remains in the genus Maranta — it was not reclassified the way most Calatheas were. The common name "prayer plant" is used for Maranta, and it is also applied to Calathea/Goeppertia.
Both are in the family Marantaceae. Both use a specialized structure called a pulvinus at the base of each leaf blade to move their leaves up at night and back down during the day. That shared mechanism is real — but it's a family-level trait, not a species-level similarity.
Side-by-side care table
| Need | Calathea / Goeppertia | Maranta leuconeura |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Medium to low indirect light — NC State — Goeppertia | Bright indirect light; avoid direct sun |
| Water | Moist, well-drained rich potting mix; never soggy — NC State — Goeppertia | Evenly moist in growing season; allow to dry in winter — NC State |
| Humidity | High humidity — NC State — Goeppertia | Intolerant of low humidity; use a humidifier or pebble tray — NC State |
| Temperature | 65–75°F — NC State — Goeppertia | Warm; consistent; avoid drafts |
| Water quality | Distilled or rainwater recommended; tap water can damage leaves — NC State — Goeppertia; fluoride and chlorine cause brown tips — Iowa State Extension | Sensitive to fluoride and chlorine in tap water — Iowa State Extension |
| Growth habit | Upright, clumping; up to 3 ft tall — NC State — Goeppertia | Low-growing, spreads horizontally |
The water quality issue applies to both. Iowa State Extension specifically notes that calathea and prayer plants are sensitive to fluoride and chlorine in tap water, with brown leaf tips as the result. Switching to filtered, distilled, or rainwater stops the browning.
How to tell them apart
Once you know the signs, identification is quick.
The red fishbone veins belong to Maranta. Maranta leuconeura has distinctive prominent red veins arranged in a herringbone pattern along the midrib — like fish bones running along the center of the leaf. NC State describes them as "prominent red fishbone-patterned veins, pale central variegation." If you see that red herringbone pattern, you have a Maranta. Calathea/Goeppertia species have widely varied patterns, but none of them have the red fishbone vein that's specific to Maranta leuconeura.
Growth habit is the other quick tell. Maranta spreads horizontally and stays low to the ground — NC State notes explicitly "the plant will spread horizontally" with "short and rhizomatous" stems. Calathea/Goeppertia grows more upright in a clumping formation; NC State lists heights of up to 3 feet.
New leaves on Maranta emerge as a rolled tube. NC State specifically mentions this: new leaves "appear as a rolled tube." Calathea/Goeppertia new leaves also emerge rolled, but the rolled-tube new growth is noted explicitly for Maranta.
Leaf underside color differs. NC State lists a pale underside among the characteristic features of Maranta leuconeura. Many Calathea/Goeppertia have purple undersides — the classic G. ornata has striking dark purple backs — but not all do. Some Goeppertia have plain green undersides, so this isn't a reliable solo identifier.
Petiole length tends to differ too. Calathea/Goeppertia usually has longer petioles on more upright plants. Maranta has shorter petioles on its more prostrate, spreading stems.
Pet toxicity
Calathea/Goeppertia: the ASPCA's Calathea entry lists calathea as non-toxic to cats and dogs. The entry is genus-level ("Calathea spp."): it names no species and does not use the name Goeppertia. For individual species, NC State's Plant Toolbox pages for Goeppertia orbifolia and Goeppertia insignis tag them "non-toxic for cats" and "non-toxic for dogs."
Maranta leuconeura: the ASPCA's Prayer Plant entry lists that plant as non-toxic to cats and dogs and gives Maranta and Red Veined Prayer among its additional common names, but its scientific name is Calathea insignis, not Maranta leuconeura. Kew's POWO lists Calathea insignis as a former name of Goeppertia insignis, the rattlesnake plant. No ASPCA entry found for this page names Maranta leuconeura, and NC State's Maranta leuconeura page has no toxicity fields or pet tags, so none of these sources gives a toxicity verdict for Maranta itself.
A note on wording: neither plant is called "safe" here. The ASPCA's plant list notes that "the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs and cats." If your pet ate either plant, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435; the ASPCA notes, "A consultation fee may apply."
More detail: is calathea toxic to cats and dogs? and are prayer plants toxic to cats and dogs?
Which one should you get?
Pick Calathea / Goeppertia if:
- You want bold, dramatic leaf patterns with real visual variety. The range of patterns across Goeppertia species — from the dramatic brushstroke leaves of G. ornata to the rounded leaves of G. orbifolia — is wide.
- You want a more upright plant with some height. Goeppertia grows upward rather than spreading out.
- You prefer a plant that looks organized rather than sprawling.
Pick Maranta if:
- You want the classic "prayer plant" look — the red fishbone veins on M. leuconeura 'Erythroneura' are a striking leaf pattern.
- You want a low-growing, spreading plant for a wider pot or a tabletop where height isn't the goal.
For both: humidity is non-negotiable, filtered or distilled water significantly reduces brown tips, and direct sun will bleach and damage the leaves. These are not low-maintenance plants, but they're rewarding if you can meet their requirements.
Frequently asked
Why does my prayer plant have brown leaf tips?
Tap water is a likely cause. Iowa State Extension specifically identifies calathea and prayer plants as sensitive to fluoride and chlorine in tap water, with brown leaf tips as the symptom. NC State for Goeppertia explicitly recommends distilled or rainwater. Switch your water source and the new growth should come in clean — existing brown tips won't reverse, but they'll stop progressing.
Is the POWO reclassification of Calathea to Goeppertia something I need to worry about?
Practically, no. The plants sold as "Calathea" at garden centers haven't changed — only their scientific name has, since most species were moved from Calathea to Goeppertia in a 2012 reclassification that Kew POWO now follows. The ASPCA still uses Calathea spp. for its non-toxicity listing. For care purposes, the cultural requirements haven't changed. For scientific writing, the correct genus is now Goeppertia for most species.
Do Calathea and Maranta really fold their leaves every night?
Yes — it's a real, observable behavior called nyctinasty. Both plants use a structure called a pulvinus at the base of each leaf blade to change water pressure in the joint, causing the leaf to move. At dusk, the leaves fold upward; by morning, they flatten back out. It's more pronounced in some specimens than others and depends on light conditions. A plant in very low light may not show it as dramatically as one in brighter indirect light with a strong day/night light differential.
Sources: Kew POWO — Goeppertia makoyana · Kew POWO — Maranta leuconeura · NC State — Goeppertia · NC State — Maranta leuconeura · ASPCA — Calathea · ASPCA — Prayer Plant · ASPCA — Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants · ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center · Kew POWO — Goeppertia insignis · NC State — Goeppertia insignis · NC State — Goeppertia orbifolia · Iowa State Extension — Environmental Conditions