Calathea and Maranta are both called "prayer plants," both fold their leaves at night, and both want humidity and filtered water. Both fold their leaves up at night. 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 good news is both are confirmed non-toxic. Here's how to tell them apart and which one to pick.
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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, both are confirmed non-toxic, which is genuinely rare among popular houseplants. That alone makes this a low-stakes comparison from a safety standpoint.
What they are (botanically)
Calathea / Goeppertia: Most plants sold under the "Calathea" name now belong to Goeppertia Nees under current Kew POWO classification — a 2020-era reclassification that moved the majority of Calathea species. 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 most garden centers have not updated their labels — so expect to see "Calathea" on any 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" belongs most accurately to Maranta, though it gets applied to Calathea/Goeppertia constantly.
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 or pebble tray — NC State |
| Temperature | 65–75°F — NC State — Goeppertia | Warm; consistent; avoid drafts |
| Water quality | Distilled or rainwater strongly recommended — tap water fluoride causes brown tips — NC State — Goeppertia | Sensitive to fluoride and chlorine in tap water — Iowa State Extension |
| Growth habit | Upright, clumping; can reach 2 ft+ | 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. I've had both plants develop crispy edges when I was lazy about water quality — it's a real issue, not a myth.
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 and can reach 2 feet or more in height.
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. Maranta typically has a reddish to burgundy underside. 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 is classified as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA (listed under the older Calathea spp. name). This is a confirmed non-toxic classification from the primary authority source.
Maranta leuconeura is confirmed non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA under the common name "Prayer Plant." The ASPCA lists this entry with scientific name Calathea insignis (a synonym within Marantaceae), confirming the family's non-toxic status.
Per the brief's legal language standard: neither plant is claimed "safe" — the ASPCA classification is "non-toxic," meaning no systemic or life-threatening effects are expected from ingestion. Any plant material can cause mild gastrointestinal upset in quantity. The ASPCA Poison Control line at (888) 426-4435 is your resource for any ingestion concern.
For households with pets, this pair is genuinely one of the better options — both confirmed non-toxic where so many popular tropical plants are not.
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 oval ovals of G. orbifolia — is unmatched in the prayer plant family.
- 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 one of the more striking leaf patterns in common houseplants.
- You want a low-growing, spreading plant for a wider pot or a tabletop where height isn't the goal.
- You're slightly more budget-conscious — Maranta tends to be more affordable than many Goeppertia cultivars.
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 — and neither will hurt your pets.
Frequently asked
Why does my prayer plant have brown leaf tips?
The most common cause is tap water fluoride or chlorine. 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 most garden centers haven't changed — only their scientific name has, as Kew POWO reclassified most species from Calathea to Goeppertia starting around 2020. 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 · Iowa State Extension — Environmental Conditions