Ctenanthe setosa

Common Names

Never Never Plant, Prayer Plant, Prayer Plants, Praying Plant, Fishbone Prayer Plant, Fishbone Plant, Zebra Plant, Grey Star, Compact Star Plant, Brazilian Snow Plant, Furry Feather Calathea

Summary

Originating from Brazil, this evergreen tropical clump-forming plant is commonly known as the Never Never Plant or Prayer Plant. It features large lance-shaped leaves with a silver-green upper surface and dark green venation, purple undersides, and hairy leaf petioles, and exhibits nyctinasty as leaves move with the day‑night cycle.

For cultivation, bright, indirect light is preferred with direct sun avoided; temperatures 60–75°F (15–24°C) and humidity around 60% or higher support growth. Use a rich, well-draining soil mix (peat-based or similar) and keep the mix evenly moist, watering when the top inch dries and using non-calcareous water to prevent leaf browning; propagation is by division, and uses include a foliage houseplant or atrium ground cover, with hardiness in USDA Zones 10a–12b.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12 inches – 5 feet

Spread

16-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 10a–11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil.

Soil Drainage

Well-draining soil

Soil pH

6.1-7.0

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

All year round

Foliage Color

Silver-green on top; purple underneath.

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

No wildlife attracted