Origin
The Calathea roseopicta var. illustris originally comes from Central and South America. Here, the plant primarily grows in the rainforest, in places with lots of shelter and high humidity. The warm, conditions in this climate are ideal for this plant family, known as the Marantaceae.

Characteristics
The Calathea roseopicta var. illustris distinguishes itself with its special leaf patterns. The leaves are dark green with a light green outline and have a purple underside, giving the plant a unique appearance. The natural growth habit of the plant is compact and it seldom grows higher than 60 centimetres. The Calathea roseopicta var. illustris is also known as the prayer plant, due to its tendency to roll up its leaves in the evening, as if it's 'praying'.

Care
Calathea roseopicta var. illustris thrives best at medium to high light levels, but should not be exposed to direct sunlight. The ideal temperature for this plant is between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius. In terms of water needs, the soil prefers to stay lightly moist without creating a surplus of water. Overwatering can lead to root rot. This can be prevented by only watering the plant when the top 2 to 3 cm of soil has dried out.