4 in. Medallion Calathea

A Masterpiece on Every Leaf

The Medallion Calathea (Calathea veitchiana) is one of the most visually stunning plants in the entire Calathea family — and that's saying something. Each broad, oval leaf is a work of art: a rich, dark green background painted with feathered brushstrokes of silver-green radiating from the midrib like the petals of a flower, with a deep burgundy-purple underside that flashes every time the leaves move. No two leaves are identical. Every single one is its own painting.

Part of the beloved Marantaceae family, the Medallion performs the same captivating daily ritual as its prayer plant cousins — leaves rising and folding with the rhythm of the day, revealing that stunning purple underside each evening in a quiet, living display that never gets old. At 4 inches, it's compact and perfectly proportioned for a desk, shelf, or side table where its extraordinary foliage can be appreciated up close.

Why You'll Love It

• Extraordinary medallion pattern — feathered silver-green brushstrokes radiate from the midrib of each broad, oval leaf like a painted medallion; one of the most intricate and beautiful foliage patterns in the houseplant world
• Living leaf movement — leaves rise and fold with the light cycle, revealing the rich burgundy-purple underside each evening in the signature prayer plant ritual
• No two leaves alike — the medallion pattern varies subtly on every leaf, making your plant a genuinely unique, ever-changing display
• Pet friendly — non-toxic to cats and dogs; a safe and spectacular choice for pet-friendly homes
• Air purifying — helps filter indoor air pollutants for a cleaner, healthier living environment
• Compact and display-ready — at 4 inches, perfectly proportioned for desks, shelves, and side tables where the intricate foliage can be fully appreciated

Care Guide

• Light: Bright to medium indirect light is ideal and will keep the silver-green medallion pattern most vivid and the growth most vigorous. Tolerates lower light, though the pattern may become less pronounced over time. Avoid direct sun, which will fade and scorch the delicate variegated leaves
• Water: Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged — water when the top inch feels dry. Use filtered, distilled, or rainwater whenever possible; like all Calatheas, the Medallion is sensitive to the fluoride and minerals in tap water, which cause brown leaf tips. Allow excess water to drain fully after each watering
• Humidity: Loves high humidity (60%+) — mist regularly, use a pebble tray, or place near a humidifier for the most lush, vibrant growth. In dry conditions, leaf edges will brown and curl. A bathroom with good indirect light is an ideal home
• Temperature: Prefers 65–85°F (18–29°C); keep away from cold drafts, air conditioning vents, and sudden temperature changes, which stress the plant and cause leaf curl
• Fertilizer: Feed monthly during spring and summer with a diluted balanced liquid fertilizer; avoid over-fertilizing, which causes leaf burn and inhibits healthy growth
• Soil: A well-draining, moisture-retentive mix is ideal; our Premium Potting Soil is an excellent match when it's time to repot
• Repotting: Repot every 1–2 years when roots begin to crowd the pot, moving up one size at a time

The Medallion Among Your Calathea Collection

With the Calathea Dottie, Freddie, and Beauty Star already in our lineup, the Medallion completes a quartet that showcases the extraordinary range of the Calathea family. Where the Dottie dazzles with bold pink and near-black contrast, the Freddie charms with subtle green stripes, and the Beauty Star shimmers with silver feathering, the Medallion brings something entirely its own — a broad, painterly pattern that feels almost floral in its symmetry. Together, they make one of the most beautiful and cohesive plant collections you can build.

Tip: Brown leaf tips are almost always caused by tap water minerals or low humidity — switch to filtered water and increase misting frequency for crisp, clean edges. And keep those extraordinary medallion-patterned leaves gleaming with our Leaf Shine Spray; at this scale, clean leaves make the intricate pattern pop even more dramatically.