Calathea Leopardina

If you love a fierce animal print but draw the line at leopard-print wallpaper, the Calathea Leopardina is exactly what your flat needs.

This gorgeous plant is a total standout, featuring bright green leaves splashed with bold, dark green leopard-like spots. It is highly architectural, beautifully patterned, and brings instant jungle energy to any room. Plus, like all prayer plants, she puts on a show—watch her fold her spotted leaves upwards every evening when the sun goes down.

As a Calathea, she definitely comes with a bit of a diva reputation. She knows exactly what she wants, and she isn't afraid to crisp up her leaves to let you know you've messed up. But get her routine right, and she is one of the most rewarding statement plants you can own.

How to keep her happy:

• Light: She needs bright, indirect light to keep those leopard spots looking bold and beautiful. If you stick her in direct sunlight, her delicate leaves will scorch and the patterns will fade.

• Water: Keep her soil slightly moist, but never let her sit in a soggy pot. She is also a massive snob when it comes to hydration—use room temperature, filtered water or collected rainwater. The chemicals in standard tap water will give her crispy brown tips!

• Feed: A weak dose of liquid fertiliser once a month during the growing season (spring and summer) is plenty.

Troubleshooting:

• Crispy brown edges? The classic Calathea complaint. This almost always means the air in your flat is too dry, usually thanks to winter heating. Keep her far away from hot radiators and boost her humidity by misting or grouping her with other leafy friends.

• Leaves not moving at night? If she has stopped doing her evening dance, she is likely heavily stressed. Check her soil—she is probably absolutely parched and begging for a drink.

Pet Safety: 100% Pet Safe. Fierce print, but zero danger. She is completely non-toxic to cats and dogs!