Brushstrokes rather than sectors
Pale zones appear as fine lines and clouds instead of heavy solid blocks.
Calathea 'Stella' 14cm
Normal price
€25,00
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Calathea‘Stella’
A Stella that prefers making an appearance every evening
- Marantaceae
- White-pink variegation
- Indirect light
- Even moisture
- Non-toxic to pets
Calathea ‘Stella’ fills slender green blades with white, cream and soft pink strokes resembling quick brushwork. A dark reverse appears as leaves change angle, adding unexpected depth to the pale palette.
The tall airy clump moves with the daily cycle and brings continual change without heavy mass. Variegation is vivid, yet the fine line of the leaves keeps the display elegant and rhythmic.
What makes it distinctive
‘Stella’ combines painterly variegation, a dark reverse and nyctinastic movement in a bright tall Marantaceae form.
Pink between the white
Young or transitional tissue can carry soft pink that warms the cream-and-green palette.
Two faces in motion
As leaves rise, the darker underside becomes visible and transforms the clump.
Why you will love it: it looks painted yet behaves like a living kinetic sculpture, changing with time, light and angle.
In your space Placement & plant pairings Where it looks its best and which plants complement it
Where it looks its best
Give it a tall shelf, low stand or table with space around the clump and no direct sun. Aubergine, cream, soft pink or dark green planters link upper and lower leaf colours without adding another pattern.
Plants that set it off
Pair it with calm green mass or fine related textures sharing soft light, even moisture and warmth.
- Ctenanthe burle-marxii — rhythmic fishbone venation in a lower silver-green form.
- Asplenium nidus — a solid wavy rosette calms the painterly pattern.
- Goeppertia lancifolia — a long narrow blade with dark oval marks creates a related but clearly different rhythm.
Care at a glance
Light
Bright to medium and always indirect. Direct sun can fade and scorch the pattern.
Water
Water when the top 1–2 cm dries. Maintain gentle, even moisture without permanent saturation.
Atmosphere
Keep at 18–26°C with consistently raised humidity and protection from hot or cold draughts.
Pets
Considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, although chewing any plant material may still cause stomach upset.
Selected for this plant
Substrate & nutrition
Detailed careComplete care guideLight, watering, humidity, substrate and nutrition in detail
Light without exposure
Place it in bright indirect light behind a sheer curtain or set back from a strong window. Deep shade thins growth, but direct sun is the more common cause of fading and scorch.
Consistent watering
Water when the top 1–2 cm dries and let excess drain away. The mix should remain lightly moist, never muddy, and should not dry through completely between waterings.
Water quality and humidity
Soft or low-mineral water helps where tap water is hard. Stable humidity around 55–70% limits dry edges more effectively than occasional misting.
Temperature
Keep it at 18–26°C, away from cold glass, air conditioning and radiators. Sudden changes show quickly along the thin leaf margins.
Substrate
Use a fine, airy mix able to hold even moisture. The pot must drain freely and repotting should move up by only one size.
Nutrition and repotting
HB-101 is a plant biostimulant/vitalizer, not a complete NPK fertilizer. Use it as a complementary product at the label rate for gentle support after stress or repotting. It does not replace balanced base nutrition during active growth.
Botanical identityOrigin & taxonomic identityThe species, origin and cultivated selection
The accepted base is Goeppertia lietzei
Goeppertia lietzei is an accepted species in Marantaceae. The modern name was published in 2017, while earlier combinations in Calathea and Maranta remain synonyms.
Origin in eastern Brazil
The species is native to parts of northeastern and southeastern Brazil within the wet tropical biome.
Cultivated ‘Stella’
‘Stella’ is a cultivated selection name for a characteristically pale expression. A breeder, parentage history and verified first release have not been published with the name.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific details nobody asked forBotanical detail for anyone who likes to look beyond the surface
Nyctinastic movement uses a pulvinus
Specialised cells at the leaf base alter water pressure and blade angle in response to the daily cycle.
Pale strokes contain less chlorophyll
White and cream zones photosynthesise less, so the plant needs ample diffuse light without direct-sun stress.
Pink is often transitional pigment
Anthocyanins in younger tissue can produce pink tones that shift as the blade matures. Change does not necessarily mean loss of identity.
Growth begins from a rhizome
New shoots emerge from an underground rhizomatous base and widen the clump. A new rolled spear is a future leaf, not a separate seedling.
Frequently asked questions
Practical answers about behaviour, common signs and correct care for this plant.
01 Why do white strokes brown first?
Pale tissue has less chlorophyll and less margin against dry air, salts and strong light. Stabilise humidity and watering, use low-mineral water and avoid direct sun.
02 When exactly should I water?
Check the top 1–2 cm. Once that layer has just dried, water evenly and let it drain. If the pot remains heavy and the mix wet, wait; the target is consistency, not constant saturation.
03 Is HB-101 its fertiliser?
No. It is a complementary biostimulant/vitalizer, not a complete NPK feed. It may be used gently after stress, while balanced base nutrition is still required after substrate reserves are used.
04 Why are the leaf edges turning brown?
Low humidity, irregular watering, hard water, salt accumulation or draughts can all contribute. Correct one factor at a time and trim only fully dry tissue without cutting into healthy green.
05 Why do the leaves move during the day?
A changing angle between day and night is normal movement in the Marantaceae and is driven by a specialised joint at the leaf base. It is concerning only when drooping comes with dry mix or soft petioles.
06 Is it safe for cats and dogs?
Plants sold as Calathea/Goeppertia are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Even so, eating a large amount of any plant material may cause mild gastrointestinal upset, so chewing should still be discouraged.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.