The Rattle Snake Plant is a herbaceous perennial tropical plant that grows from an underground rhizome and produces very large green leaves and striking yellow inflorescences that resemble a baby's rattle. The unusual inflorescences are upright, up to 10 inches long, and consist of stacked floral bracts with small flowers peeking out at the edges. The genus name comes from the Latin calathus meaning basket in reference to the inflorescence looking like a basket of flowers. The plant is native to South American rain forests, but can be found grown outdoors in Hawaii. In non-tropical climates, it is grown indoors in containers. While indoor plants retain the plant's patterned foliage, flowers rarely appear. The plants grow from underground rhizome in organically rich soil and, in Hawaii, have escaped from cultivation and grow wild in moderately wet areas. In less tropical climates, the plant is typically grown as an attractive houseplant, but it can be a challenge to grow the Rattle Snake plant indoors. The plant should be kept uniformly moist, well-drained, in a peaty potting mix at room temperatures ranging from 65 to 75 degrees F. The container should be sited in limited sun to bright shade locations. It will tolerate some early morning sun or diffused sun. Also, avoid drafts or sudden temperature changes. Plants need high humidity, so consider standing a potted plant on a bed of wet pebbles, misting the foliage regularly or growing the plant in a humidified room. During the growing season (April-August), water regularly to keep soil moist (but not wet) and apply a balanced fertilizer each month. Reduce watering and fertilization in winter when plant growth typically slows down. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known serious insect or disease problems. However, watch for aphids, scale, mealybugs and spider mites. Leaf spots may appear and plants will react to low humidity with leaves that roll or brown up. Direct sun can cause leaf scorch.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are large, dark green above with paler green along the midrib, grayish green with often purplish margins below, ovate in shape, and pinnately-veined with parallel lateral veins. The markings on each leaf purportedly resemble the markings found on some rattlesnakes, hence the common name for this plant.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Upright yellow inflorecence, 2 to 4 inch spikes, that looks like a baby rattle. The relatively inconspicuous flowers are small, tubular and have three unequal lobes.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Blue
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
The flowers are followed by 1/2 inch long, egg-shaped seed capsules containing dark blue seeds surrounded with white flesh.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central Mexico to Southern Tropical America
Distribution
Introduced into Hawaii and Puerto Rico
Attracts
Bees; Pollinators
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Colorful
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Houseplants
Landscape theme
Rain Garden
Design feature
Accent; Specimen
Garden tags
#tropical feel #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #tropical herbaceous perennial #attractive leaves #perennial