Does it need direct sun?

No, it prefers bright, indirect light to prevent leaf scorch.

Plant guide

Arrowroot.

Maranta arundinacea

Pronounced muh-RAN-tuh uh-run-din-AY-see-uh

Also known as Arrowroot, West Indian arrowroot, maranta

Maranta arundinacea — Photo by Paulo C. O. Cunha (CC BY) via gbif

Arrowroot is a lovely tropical perennial known for its starchy rhizomes and lush foliage. It thrives in warm, humid environments that mimic its native rainforest floor. You will find it makes a charming addition to any indoor collection.

Another photo of Arrowroot — Photo by Alexis López Hernández (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Light: Partial shade to bright indirect light.
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 3 to 5 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root rot. Watch for browning leaf edges, which often signal that the air is too dry. It appreciates a spot with high humidity and protection from harsh, direct sun.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels slightly dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim away any yellowing or damaged leaves to keep the plant looking tidy.
Repotting: Repot in the spring when the rhizomes become crowded in their current container.
Soil: Rich, well draining potting mix.
Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5
Temperature: 15 to 27°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, living for many years from its rhizomes with proper care and easily renewed by division.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot
Stunted growth during the active season

Safety

People: This plant is considered non-toxic to humans.
Pets: This plant is generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: The plant is safe for children, though the rhizomes should be kept away from small mouths to prevent choking.
Edibility: While the rhizomes are edible when processed into starch, raw consumption is not recommended.

How to identify it

Broad, lance shaped green leaves
Prominent parallel leaf veins
Small white flowers on stalks
Fleshy, edible underground rhizomes

Height: 0.6 to 1.5m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your arrowroot from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: division, rhizome cuttings
When to plant: Spring
Overwintering: Bring the plant indoors before temperatures drop below 15 degrees Celsius. Reduce watering slightly during the winter months when growth slows.
In containers: It grows well in containers, provided the pot has excellent drainage and is at least 20 cm wide.

Rhizome Division

1. Gently remove the plant from its pot.
2. Carefully separate the rhizome clumps with a clean knife.
3. Ensure each section has at least one healthy shoot.
4. Replant the sections into fresh, moist potting mix.

Group this plant with other tropical foliage to create a microclimate that helps maintain necessary humidity levels.

Grows well with

Peace Lily · They share similar requirements for high humidity and indirect light.
Ferns · Ferns provide a lush, moisture-retaining environment for the arrowroot.

Similar species

Prayer Plant · It is a close relative with similar growth habits and leaf movement.

Science

Family: Marantaceae
Genus: Maranta
Order: Zingiberales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Tropical regions of South America and the Caribbean.
Conservation: This species is widely cultivated and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in the understory of tropical forests where it benefits from filtered light and high humidity.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: culinary starch, ornamental foliage, traditional medicine

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 4/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 7/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need direct sun?: No, it prefers bright, indirect light to prevent leaf scorch.
How often should I water it?: Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors Bartolomeo Maranta, an Italian physician and botanist, while the species name refers to the reed-like appearance of the stems.

Good to know

The name arrowroot is thought to come from its historical use in treating arrow wounds.
It grows from fleshy, starchy rhizomes underground.
The leaves fold up at night, a behavior known as nyctinasty.

Also in

Plants for shade

Keep your arrowroot growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.