Prayer Plant

Maranta leuconeura

Family: Marantaceae

Houseplant
Nyctinastic leaf movement

Pet & Human Safety

People: Hazard to peoplePets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Hazardous parts

No exact-species hazard source found

Preparation

not applicable: this plant is not a food crop

Hazard type

Not yet checked.

Hazard route

Not yet checked.

How complete this information is

We have not researched the safety of this plant yet.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

no ASPCA entry exists under this or any related common name. No pet-safety verdict is given, because not appearing in a list does not show a plant is safe. see the hazard information below for the separate food-safety picture.

Patent / trademark

not applicable

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for ASPCA's own pages titled 'Prayer Plant' and 'Maranta' (both actually Calathea insignis), a different genus from this species (Maranta leuconeura). To tell them apart: 'Prayer plant' leaf-folding behavior at night is shared across several Marantaceae genera, so the common name alone doesn't identify the species.. Do not apply ASPCA's Calathea insignis non-toxic verdict to Maranta leuconeura: they are different genera, and no exact-species toxicity source for Maranta leuconeura was found.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Care

Hardiness zones: 11a-11b (tropical houseplant only).
Water needs: evenly moist during growing season; reduce watering in winter to allow soil to dry somewhat
Mature size: 6 in-1 ft tall, 6 in-2 ft wide; low-growing, clumping and spreading habit, typically grown as a container houseplant.
Where it comes from: Brazil, with distribution extending to Colombia and parts of Mexico.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

Get the app: coming soon