Calathea roseopicta Shinestar - Rose-painted calathea

Calathea 'Shinestar', or Goeppertia roseopicta ‘Shinestar’, is a houseplant with richly variegated foliage. Its large, deep green leaves, broadly brushed with light green and sometimes tinged with pink, have a very decorative purple underside. Its mobile foliage follows the variations in light in the living room, office, or bathroom.

Native to the humid tropical forests of western South America, particularly the Amazon basin in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, Goeppertia roseopicta (formerly Calathea roseopicta) grows naturally under the canopy, in constantly moist soil and very humid air. 
The cultivar Shinestar™ (also sold as Calathea Shinestar™ PP21978) belongs to the Marantaceae family, famous for its "prayer plants" whose leaves rise in the evening. This tropical perennial forms a dense clump reaching 40 to 60 cm in height and 30 to 50 cm in width. Its broad, teardrop-shaped, wavy and glossy leaves, feature a very dark, almost black, green centre along the midrib, surrounded by a wide, medium green zone, itself bordered by an irregular, very light green edge often tinged with pink. The deep purple-violet underside appears when the leaves rise in the evening. The small, discreet white to violet flowers are rarely seen indoors. 
Calathea is generally considered non-toxic to humans and pets.

Indoors, this variety appreciates filtered light, away from direct sunlight, a warm and humid atmosphere, and a location protected from cold draughts. Stable temperatures between 18 and 24 °C, without dropping consistently below 16 °C, suit it very well, especially if the humidity remains high. Overall, it is a plant that requires a bit of attention, as it reacts quickly to air that is too dry, over or under-watering, and hard water.

Calathea 'Shinestar' will look good in a plain-coloured planter placed on a side table or console, a few steps away from an east or north-facing window. It suits both urban jungle atmospheres and more bohemian décors. To create a lush atmosphere, you can pair it with a Calathea ‘Dottie’ and install a Philodendron ‘Brasil’ in a hanging basket right next to it. A Cyrtomium falcatum fern will complete this ensemble.