Not to be confused with the rather similar looking Calathea lancifolia, the Calathea Rufibarba is also often referred to as the 'velvet calathea' or 'furry feather Calathea' on account of its fluffy feather-shaped leaves. Part of the prayer plant family, i. e. the Marantaceae family, the Calathea rufibarba originates from Brazil. Rather unusually for a calathea, the green leaf tops are smooth, whereas the maroon undersides of the leaf are fluffy and velvety with little hairs on them, hence leading to its common names. At maturity, the plant can reach up to 1 metre in height. Calatheas like to be damp at all times and, unlike philodendrons, don't enjoy drying out in-between waterings. With this being said, one of the most common causes of plant death is root rot and so it's worth noting that the plant likes to have its ft. moist, but not sitting in water. Like many tropical indoor houseplants, Calatheas do well in a well-draining soil mix, which can be typically purchased at your local garden centre selling indoor plants. Typically the plant will need repotting into a larger container every year or 2, depending on growth conditions and the like. Though many people might say that Calatheas are the perfect low-light plants, this is simply not the case. While it is true that calatheas can tolerate lower lighting conditions than other tropical houseplants, they certainly need bright indirect lighting in order to thrive.