Calathea dressleri was first described by botanist Helen Kennedy from collections made in Panama. The bright contrasting patterns and colors of the leaves are reminiscent of the spectacular plumage of male peacocks. Distantly related to prayer plants, bananas and gingers, this species is well adapted to humid tropical environments. Tolerant of full sun to partial shade it requires the challenging combination of well drained soils that remain constantly moist. At ‘home’ in the higher elevation cloud forests of Central America where rain showers begin at 1 pm every day. Within the homes of Chicagoans, this plant and its relatives are prone to infestations of spider mites (relative humidity is too low).