Plant Profile: Ctenanthe oppenheimiana

Names

Never Never Plant

  • Photo of Ctenanthe oppenheimiana (Ctenanthe oppenheimianas)

Phonetic Spelling:tee-NANTH-ee o-pen-hiem-ee-AY-na

Genus:Ctenanthe

Species:oppenheimiana

Family:Marantaceae

This vibrant tropical houseplant boasts striking foliage and thrives best in a window that receives indirect light or partial shade.

Quick Identification Tips:

This evergreen indoor shrub can reach up to 15 inches in height and has a broad, spreading form.

It is prized for its lush, leathery leaves, with its height primarily determined by the length of the petioles, as it does not branch.

However, it can be challenging to cultivate. It cannot tolerate direct sunlight, temperatures below 60°F, cold drafts, hard or cold water, consistently dry air, or fertilization immediately after repotting. Instead, it thrives in medium light, high humidity, and a consistently moist growing medium.

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana Feature Summary

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#houseplant
#interiorscape
#fantz
#container plants

Similar Plants

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana is often confused with:

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana Feature Summary

Flowers
(usually not seen in cultivation) white to yellow.
White
Gold/Yellow
Leaves
In basal rosette, simple, lanceolate, acute, cuneate, entire, green with silver white markings in direction of veins above, purple-red beneath, coriaceous.
Green
Variegated
Lanceolate
Cuneate
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
3 feet-6 feet
12 inches-3 feet
Landscape
Container
Houseplants

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana Flowers

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Flower Description

(usually not seen in cultivation) white to yellow.

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
White

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana Leaves

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Leaf Description

In basal rosette, simple, lanceolate, acute, cuneate, entire, green with silver white markings in direction of veins above, purple-red beneath, coriaceous.

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Leaf Color

spa
Green
spa
Variegated

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana Stem

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Stem Description

Rhizomatous

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana Whole Plant Traits

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana Cultural Conditions

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
12a
thermostat
12b

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana Landscape

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland