Calathea: vase life, season, meaning and care for florists
Calathea makoyana
Calathea (Calathea makoyana, family Marantaceae) usually lasts 10–14 days in a vase. In season: Year-round. Fragrance: none. Typical role in a design: foliage.
Cut flower commercial monograph
- Official name
- Calathea
- Botanical name
- Calathea makoyana
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Aliases
- None
- Native origin
- Temperate and subtropical regions worldwide
- Growth habit
- Woody perennial shrub or decorative branch with structural lignified stems.
- Stem length
- 80–120 cm
- Natural colours
- Green, Pink
- Natural bloom
- Natural flowering in spring and summer
- Commercial supply
- Available year-round via commercial greenhouse production
- Harvest stage
- Harvest when buds show true colour and outer petals loosen (Stage 2–3).
- Vase life
- 10–14 days
- Cold storage
- Cold storage suitable (2–5°C constant temperature, high humidity).
- Special care
- Grown for its patterned leaves, cut singly for line and contrast. Keep it from cold, draughts and direct sun, and wipe the leaves rather than soaking them.
- Application
- Serves primarily as Foliage in modern floristry, ideal for table arrangements and event designs.
- Market notes
- Grown for its patterned leaves, cut singly for line and contrast. Keep it from cold, draughts and direct sun, and wipe the leaves rather than soaking them.
For florists
Try Calathea in a client design
Start with your idea; no inventory needed. Flower availability and costs need confirmation. New accounts receive 30 credits.
Try it as a design — freeCare and conditioning
- Grown for its patterned leaves, cut singly for line and contrast. Keep it from cold, draughts and direct sun, and wipe the leaves rather than soaking them.
Where it fits
| Use | Why | |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital visits and condolences | ✓ | Not strongly scented and no heavy pollen. Check that the ward accepts fresh flowers. |
| Weddings | ✓ | No pollen staining, and it lasts long enough to make up a day ahead. |
| Dining tables and restaurants | ✓ | Little or no scent, so it will not compete with the meal. |
| Homes with cats or dogs | ✓ | Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats and dogs (entry: Calathea spp.). Check the other stems in the bouquet too. |
| Making ahead and next-day delivery | ✓ | Long-lasting (about 10–14 days) — good for orders prepared ahead and weekly contract flowers. |
Pairs well with
These are available at the same time as calathea and have a similar vase life (foliage lasts at least as long), so the arrangement ages evenly:
| Flower | Role | Vase life |
|---|---|---|
| Carnation | Focal flower | 10–14 days |
| Bird of paradise | Focal flower | 10–14 days |
| Orchids (cut) | Focal flower | 10–21 days |
| Statice | Filler flower | 10–14 days |
| Craspedia (billy buttons) | Filler flower | 10–14 days |
| Alstroemeria | Filler flower | 10–14 days |
Substitutes
When calathea is unavailable, out of season or priced up before a holiday, these fill the same role at the same time of year:
| Flower | Vase life | In season | Fragrance | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monstera leaf | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | mildly toxic |
| Asparagus fern | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | mildly toxic |
| Ivy | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | mildly toxic |
| Fatsia | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
FAQ
How long does calathea last in a vase?
Usually 10–14 days, depending on variety, origin and conditioning.
When is calathea in season?
It is available year-round.
How do you keep calathea fresh?
Grown for its patterned leaves, cut singly for line and contrast. Keep it from cold, draughts and direct sun, and wipe the leaves rather than soaking them.
What colours does calathea come in?
Naturally in green, pink (not counting dyed stems).
What can I use instead of calathea?
Flowers with the same role, an overlapping season and a similar vase life: Monstera leaf, Asparagus fern, Ivy, Fatsia.
Related guides
In season at the same time
RoseLilyCarnationGerbera daisyLisianthusBaby's breathBird of paradiseOrchids (cut)