Family: Marantaceae

Calathea burle-marxii (now known by its accepted name Goeppertia burle-marxii) is a small, attractive tropical plant native to Brazil. It is best known for its striking, velvety green leaves marked with bold, dark fishbone-like patterns, making it a popular choice for indoor décor and shaded landscape plantings. This species typically grows low to the ground in clumps and thrives in warm, humid conditions with filtered light. It is most commonly used as an ornamental houseplant or as a groundcover in sheltered gardens, valued for its foliage rather than flowers.

At this time, Goeppertia burle-marxii is not known to pose significant invasive risks in Hawaiʻi. It spreads slowly and is generally propagated intentionally by division rather than by seed, which limits its ability to escape cultivation. However, like many tropical ornamentals, it prefers moist, shaded environments, so care should be taken to prevent discarded plant material from entering natural areas. Continued responsible planting and disposal practices help ensure this species remains a low-risk ornamental in Hawaiʻi landscapes.

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Reproduces by seeds (rarely in cultivation) and vegetatively by suckers
  
• May be self-compatible
  
• Seeds dispersed by ants and intentionally by people
  
• Seeds, if produced, may persist in the soil
  
• Limited ecological information may limit accuracy of risk prediction

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of invasiveness or naturalization, but no evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Ornamental
  
• Limited fruit and seed production in cultivation
  
• Requires specialized pollinators
  
• Limited seed production reduces risk of inadvertent dispersal