Stomanthe sanguinea “Tricolor” is a stunning selection of a tropical herbaceous perennial in the maranta or prayer plant family (Marantaceae) with dramatic, multicolored leaves. Native to rain forests of Brazil, it requires high humidity and warm temperatures to thrive. Once just an uncommon landscape plant in zones 9-11 (or a curiosity for greenhouse growers), this relative of the prayer plant (Maranta species) is becoming more common as an unusual houseplant or seasonal annual in the Midwest grown for its fabulous foliage. This plant has some issues with its name: the true cultivar is actually ‘Triostar’, but typically is marketed under the name “Tricolor” and the species name was technically changed to S. thalia, but this is rarely seen in the trade. 

Winter hardy in USDA zones 10-12, it is best grown in fertile, moist, but well-drained soil in light or partial shade. It thrives in morning sun and afternoon shade. Foliage will usually burn in direct sunlight, especially in the hot summer months. North of Zone 10, the plant is best grown indoors as a houseplant or in a greenhouse. The houseplant can be moved outdoors to a sheltered location in summer, in partial sun to almost full shade. It is best brought indoors in the fall when temperatures drop to 50°F. The houseplant does best in an east window with high humidity (consider placing the container on a bed of damp pebbles and misting the foliage daily). The soil should not be allowed to dry out.

• Leaves, S. sanguinea has thick, glossy, oblong leaves with entire margins that are a dark green color on top and burgundy below. The leaves of Tricolor have irregular variegations in cream, pink, and green on the upper surface and are either a solid pink to burgundy or maroon with pink variegation on the lower surface. The amount of variegation varies considerably, with some plants – or just a few leaves on a plant – almost all cream, while other leaves have green bands of varying widths, to almost completely green with just a few creamy streaks. The petioles are a pink or burgundy as well.

• Stems, S. sanguinea has short, creeping stems that can grow up to 5 feet tall under ideal conditions, but this cultivar remains much shorter (18-30 inches), especially when grown in a container.

• Flower, are rarely produced on Tricolor grown as a houseplant. In its native habitat, panicles of white or pink flowers surrounded by tubular orange-red bracts which age to a reddish pink are produced in winter and spring. These tight, pendulous clusters held above the foliage are sometimes seen on plants grown in greenhouses.

• Propagation Through Clump Division. The Most Effective Method: Stromanthe cannot be propagated from stems, so clump division is the primary and most successful method.

• Propagation Through Tissue Culture.

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