Peacock plant Goeppertia makoyana
Peacock plant (Goeppertia makoyana) is an evergreen perennial groundcover in the Marantaceae family, native to Eastern Brazil (Atlantic rainforest floor). It grows 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall and 30–60 cm (12–24 in) wide, wants shade and high water, and is hardy to about 13 °C (55 °F). Space plants about 40 cm (16 in) apart.
Plan Peacock plant in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Peacock plant at a glance
| Type | Perennial groundcover, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Marantaceae |
| Mature height | 30–60 cm (12–24 in) |
| Mature spread | 30–60 cm (12–24 in) |
| Spacing | 40 cm (16 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Shade, at least 1 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5.5–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 13 °C (55 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 12) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 32 °C (90 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | None |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Eastern Brazil (Atlantic rainforest floor) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇸🇬 Singapore |
Is Peacock plant toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA, as Calathea makoyana).
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Peacock plant
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like shade and high water.
See Peacock plant in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley (6 plants)
- Missouri Botanical Garden (10 plants)
- Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (18 plants)
- Denver Botanic Gardens (8 plants)
- Kew: glasshouses and rock garden (22 plants)
Questions about Peacock plant
- How far apart should I plant Peacock plant?
- About 40 cm (16 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–60 cm (12–24 in).
- Does Peacock plant need full sun?
- Shade: at least 1 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Peacock plant need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Peacock plant?
- It tolerates about 13 °C (55 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12.
- Is Peacock plant poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA, as Calathea makoyana).
- What grows well with Peacock plant?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Peacock plant. Group it with plants that like the same sun (shade) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical: outdoors only in frost-free climates; in temperate gardens grow it under heated glass (as in the Kew Palm House).
- Grown for its leaves (feathered dark markings, purple undersides), which fold up at night; rarely flowers in cultivation.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Arrowroot (West Indian arrowroot) Maranta arundinacea
- Round-leaf calathea Goeppertia orbifolia
- Fishbone prayer plant (Burle Marx ctenanthe) Ctenanthe burle-marxii
- Triostar stromanthe Stromanthe thalia
- Prayer plant (herringbone plant) Maranta leuconeura
- Rattlesnake plant Goeppertia insignis
- Creeping thyme Thymus serpyllum
- Hosta Hosta spp.