Calathea rufibarba - Calathéa à poils roux, Calathea velours

The Calathea rufibarba or Velvet Calathea is a must-have for enthusiasts of elegant indoor plants with manageable care requirements. With its undulate, soft textured, deep green foliage with purple undersides, it adds an intensely exotic touch to any decor. It will fit perfectly in a bright bathroom or a cosy living room. Place it away from draughts and keep its compost slightly moist to keep it looking splendid.

A member of the Marantaceae family, the Calathea rufibarba is a botanical species also known by the synonyms Goeppertia rufibarba and Phyllodes rufibarba. This beauty originating from South America is a perennial plant with an upright and bushy habit, reaching approximately 90 cm in height and 60 cm in spread at maturity. Its long, tapered leaves measuring up to 25 cm in length display a dark green upper surface and a purple underside, often covered in fine, silky hairs—hence its other nickname, the 'Furry Feather Calathea'. Borne on long petioles, the leaves are elegantly undulate, adding an interesting visual texture. Although indoor flowering is rare, this variety occasionally produces small pale yellow flowers arranged in dense spikes at the base of the plant, usually hidden beneath the foliage.

In its natural habitat, the Calathea rufibarba grows on humus-bearing soil in tropical forests, thriving in warm and humid environments. Indoors, it requires indirect light, a mild temperature of around 18-24°C, high ambient humidity, and well-drained soil to flourish. Non-toxic, it is safe for pets and helps purify the surrounding air. Additionally, its leaves exhibit a nyctinastic movement: they fold up at night and unfold during the day.

The Calathea rufibarba will fit seamlessly into tropical, Scandinavian, or minimalist decor styles. Placed in a white ceramic planter or a natural fibre basket, it will bring an elegant touch of greenery to a contemporary living room or a bright bathroom. Paired with plants of similar needs such as pothos or an Epipremmum N'Joy or a 'Brasil' Philodendron scandens, it will create a harmonious and lush combination.