4" Maranta, Red

Red Maranta has the best paint job of any houseplant. The large, deep velvet, oval leaves are marked with chartreuse splashes of color down the center of the leaf, through which a bright scarlet red midrib runs, branching out into bright red veins. Next to the chartreuse is a band of deep piney green followed by a broad edge of emerald green. New leaves arrive on the scene upright and tightly rolled like flags then gently unfurl and lay sideways to show their true colors. This native of Brazil folds its leaves upward at night to conserve moisture, showing its rosy magenta glow, sometimes making a soft rustling sound. It loves humidity and distilled water and medium to bright light, making it a candidate for almost any room, and is a nice hanging plant, not so much trailing as gracefully leaning downwards.