ornamentalFamily: MarantaceaeGenus: Calathea

Cultivar

Rufibarba Calathea

Calathea 'Rufibarba'

Cultivar: Rufibarba

This elegant tropical plant is celebrated for its distinctive, velvety leaves that feel like soft felt to the touch. The upright, lance-shaped foliage features a deep emerald green top and deep purple-burgundy undersides, adding sophisticated texture and color to any indoor collection. It thrives in humid environments with indirect light and brings a refined, natural look to home or office interiors.

Calathea rufibarba is a unique tropical houseplant valued for its wavy, lance-shaped leaves with a soft, fuzzy texture. Its striking deep green foliage and burgundy-toned undersides provide excellent contrast for indoor spaces.

Marketplace packs coming soon

Current nursery inventory and 18 / 36 / 72 pricing will appear here when available.

Cultivar Story

Start with Inspiration. Grow Your Aspiration.

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Growing Inspiration

Inspiration for future Agardeni growing environments.

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Marketplace Plant

A realistic representation of the starter plants offered in 18, 36, and 72 plant quantities.

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Aspirational Garden

Grow your aspirational plan into an inspirational garden.

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Plant Detail

A closer look at the fruit, flower, foliage, or mature defining characteristics of this cultivar.

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Repotting / Start Growing

Begin with a starter plant and establish it in a larger pot using quality potting soil with beneficials and fertilizer.

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Start · Plan · Grow

Start with real plants. Plan with current marketplace availability. Grow your aspirational garden.

Cultivar Video

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See this cultivar from starter plant to aspirational garden.

Plant Profile

Grow Rufibarba Calathea with confidence

Key growing information first, with the complete reviewed cultivar profile available when you want it.

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Sun

Bright, indirect light; avoid direct sunlight which can scorch the foliage.

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Water

Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged; allow only the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings.

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Mature size

18-24 inches tall and wide.

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Hardiness

11-12

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Growth habit

Clumping tropical perennial.

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Plant type

Tropical foliage plant

View Plant Data

Care, size, flowering, climate, soil, health, and additional reviewed data.

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Good to know

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Growing note

Maintain consistent high humidity, as dry air often causes leaf edges to brown. Avoid cold drafts and keep the plant away from heat vents.

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Climate note

Prefers warm temperatures between 65°F and 80°F; sensitive to cold and temperatures below 60°F.

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Flower / fruit

Rarely flowers indoors, but occasionally produces small, subtle yellow flowers; primarily grown for its foliage.

Growing & Care

Everyday care, growth, feeding, and pruning guidance.

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Sun / light

Bright, indirect light; avoid direct sunlight which can scorch the foliage.

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Growth rate

Moderate.

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Fertilizer

Apply a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at half-strength during the active growing season, typically spring through summer.

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Pruning

Remove yellowing or damaged leaves at the base of the petiole to maintain plant health and appearance.

Care notes

Maintain consistent high humidity, as dry air often causes leaf edges to brown. Avoid cold drafts and keep the plant away from heat vents.

Size & Habit

How the plant grows and the space it needs at maturity.

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Mature size

18-24 inches tall and wide.

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Growth habit

Clumping tropical perennial.

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Spacing

18-24 inches.

Flower / Fruit

Flowering, fruiting, pollination, bloom, and harvest behavior.

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Flowering / fruiting

Rarely flowers indoors, but occasionally produces small, subtle yellow flowers; primarily grown for its foliage.

Climate & Hardiness

Cold, heat, chill, and regional growing considerations.

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Hardiness zones

11-12

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Temperature

Prefers warm temperatures between 65°F and 80°F; sensitive to cold and temperatures below 60°F.

Soil & Water

Moisture, drainage, soil, and pH preferences.

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Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged; allow only the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings.

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Soil

Use a well-draining, high-quality peat-based potting mix that retains moisture while allowing excess water to drain away.

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Soil pH

6.0-7.0

More Plant Data

19 additional reviewed fields from this Plant.id.

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Container Growing

Ideally suited for containers; ensure the pot has drainage holes and is sized appropriately to avoid over-potting.

Family

Marantaceae

Foliage Look

Deep green, lance-shaped, wavy-edged leaves with distinct fine, soft-hair texture on stems and purple-burgundy undersides.

Foliage Rules

Leaves must be lanceolate, wavy along the edges, and covered in fine, soft hairs; show strong color contrast between top and bottom sides.

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Fruit Flower Look

Rare, small, non-showy yellow flowers tucked near the base.

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Fruit Flower Rules

Do not depict flowers on juvenile starter plants, as flowering is rare and requires maturity.

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Growth Habit Rules

Maintain an upright, clumping form; prevent leggy growth by ensuring adequate indirect light.

Mature Plant Look

A lush, upright clump of textured, velvety foliage creating a sophisticated tropical presence.

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Mature Stage Morphology

Forms a dense clump of upright stems carrying elongated, wavy, velvet-like leaves with deep purple undersides.

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Morphology Rules

Ensure foliage texture is represented as soft/velvety rather than glossy or waxy.

Plant Faqs

How much light does Calathea rufibarba need? It prefers bright, indirect light to keep its foliage colors vibrant. Why are the leaf edges turning brown? This is often a sign of low humidity; try misting or using a humidifier. How big does it grow? It typically reaches 18 to 24 inches in height and width when mature. Is it toxic to pets? Generally considered non-toxic, but ingestion should be avoided.

Root Look

Healthy, fibrous root system filling a starter plug.

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Soil Look

Rich, dark, damp, well-draining potting medium.

Starter Stage

Small, young plant with several developing lance-shaped, fuzzy-textured leaves.

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Starter Stage Morphology

Leaves are light to medium green, showing the signature wavy margins and fine, soft hairs on stems and undersides.

Video Voiceover Script

Welcome to Agardeni, where inspiration for gardening helps us imagine how and where we will grow Rufibarba Calathea. This is Rufibarba Calathea, available as 18, 36, and 72 plant starter trays through the Agardeni Marketplace. Let this velvety tropical become part of your aspirational plan, helping you imagine the refined indoor foliage environment you want to create. The defining beauty of this plant is its unique, lance-shaped leaves, covered in a fine, soft fuzz that adds a sophisticated texture and depth to its rich green color. Establish your starter plug by repotting it into approximately a four-inch pot with a quality, well-draining potting mix, then move it later to an appropriate final decorative container when established. Find your inspiration with Agardeni. Explore real plants and real availability. Start. Plan. Grow.

Youtube Tags

Calathea rufibarba Velvet Calathea Tropical Plants Indoor Gardening Houseplant Care Agardeni Foliage Plants Container Gardening

Youtube Video Summary

Discover the beauty of Calathea rufibarba, a striking tropical houseplant known for its unique, velvety foliage. Learn how to care for this elegant plant and bring a touch of natural texture to your indoor garden.

Youtube Video Title

Calathea rufibarba: Growing the Velvet Calathea

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Future Buyer Brand Sellers

Possible future seller options for 2.5-inch, 4-inch, and 1-gallon finished plants.