Family: Marantaceae

Goeppertia zebrina (syn. Calathea zebrina), is a striking tropical plant native to Brazil. It is widely admired for its bold, velvety leaves, which feature dark green stripes over a lighter green background, giving it a zebra-like appearance. This low-growing plant thrives in warm, humid conditions and is often grown indoors as a decorative houseplant or in shaded gardens for its lush foliage. While primarily valued for its ornamental beauty, it can also contribute to indoor air quality and create a vibrant, natural accent in homes and landscapes.

Although Goeppertia zebrina is popular and generally easy to care for, it has not been widely reported as invasive in Hawai‘i. However, like other tropical ornamentals, it could potentially escape cultivation and establish in suitable natural habitats under the right conditions. Its growth in disturbed areas or shaded forest edges could impact native plant communities if left unmanaged. Gardeners are encouraged to monitor plants carefully and avoid planting near sensitive natural areas.

High Risk Traits:

• A single plant escape reported from Puerto Rico
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Reproduces by seeds (rarely in cultivation) and vegetatively by suckers
  
• May be self-compatible
  
• Seeds, if produced, may be 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, despite widespread cultivation 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