Stromanthe
Stromanthe sanguinea
An evergreen perennial houseplant featuring lance-shaped, dark green leaves with silvery-white variegation and a striking deep maroon undersurface.
- Light
- Bright, indirect light for 6 to 8 hours daily. Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch the foliage and fade leaf patterns.
- Water
- Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil begins to feel dry. Prefers consistently moist soil and high humidity; use filtered water or rainwater to prevent leaf tip browning.
- Growth
- Clump-forming herbaceous perennial with an upright growth habit, reaching mature heights of 2 to 3 feet with a similar spread under optimal conditions.
Care instructions
Provide bright, indirect sunlight, keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy, maintain high humidity, and feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength monthly during the spring and summer growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Bright, indirect light for 6 to 8 hours daily. Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch the foliage and fade leaf patterns.
Watering
Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil begins to feel dry. Prefers consistently moist soil and high humidity; use filtered water or rainwater to prevent leaf tip browning.
Soil
Rich, well-draining potting mix containing peat moss, perlite, and organic matter with a slightly acidic to neutral pH between 5.5 and 6.5.
Hardiness zone
USDA Zones 10 to 12 when grown outdoors; typically kept indoors as a houseplant in cooler zones.
Growth habit
Clump-forming herbaceous perennial with an upright growth habit, reaching mature heights of 2 to 3 feet with a similar spread under optimal conditions.
Bloom season
Rarely blooms indoors; when grown outdoors in ideal conditions, it produces small white flowers enclosed in bright red bracts during spring and summer.
Propagation
Propagated by division during spring repotting, carefully separating established clumps with healthy roots and foliage.
Common pests & issues
Prone to spider mites and mealybugs if humidity is too low. Brown leaf tips typically indicate low humidity, underwatering, or sensitivity to tap water minerals.
Similar species
Often confused with Calathea and Ctenanthe species due to similar foliage patterns and prayer plant behavior, but distinguished by its vibrant reddish-pink stems and deep burgundy leaf undersides.