prayer plant

noun

plural prayer plants

: a maranta (Maranta leuconeura of the family Marantaceae, the prayer plant or arrowroot family) that is native to Brazil and has several varieties (such as M. leuconeura var. kerchoveana and M. leuconeura var. erythroneura) that are widely grown as houseplants for their ornamentally patterned oval leaves that turn upward in evening

The red-veined prayer plant has a herringbone design of red veins over light to olive green leaf surfaces and silvery green along the center vein.

—Georgia Tasker

The leaves of the prayer plant bend up at nightfall, resembling hands clasped in prayer.

—Barbara Arnold

Prayer plants have striking leaves, with brightly colored veins (usually red or yellow).

—Lesley Chan

Examples of prayer plant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Humidity Domes with Tupperware Another kitchen item that our experts like to get creative with when propagating tropical houseplants—like monstera varieties and prayer plants—is the humble Tupperware container. —Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026

For example, aloe vera plants are commonly associated with healing and protection, while prayer plants are tied to gratitude. —Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Feb. 2026

Calatheas and prayer plants don’t like it. —Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 21 Jan. 2026

Aleman and Moreno take turns wandering through the crowd, displaying the prize for each game, such as a distinctive Calathea fishbone plant, a.k.a. fishbone prayer plant, and offering advice about how to keep it healthy. —Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prayer plant

• confidante
• interplant
• sycophant
• ant
• aunt
• cant
• chant
• gant
• lant
• pant
• quant
• rant