Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Central America, South America
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
Not Available
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
Dry areas, Well Drained, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
9-11
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
Not Available
Sunset Zone
Not Available
Not Available
Habit
Not Available
Thicket/Colonizing
Minimum Height
Not Available
Minimum Width
Not Available
Flower Color
Not Available
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Not Available
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Not Available
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Not Available
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Not Available
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Sunlight
Not Available
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Not Available
Medium
Type of Soil
Not Available
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Not Available
Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Not Available
Well drained
Bloom Time
Not Available
Spring, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
Not Available
Yes
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Not Available
Alkaline
Soil Type
Not Available
Dry, Sandy
Soil Drainage Capacity
Not Available
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Not Available
Full Sun
Pruning
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
In Early Autumn, Prune in winter, Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
Complete balanced fertilizer, iron-rich fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Aphids, Red blotch, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
Wind
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Showy Fruit
Not Available
Yes
Edible Fruit
Not Available
Yes
Fragrant Flower
Not Available
Yes
Fragrant Fruit
Not Available
No
Fragrant Leaf
Not Available
No
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Not Available
No
Showy Foliage
Not Available
Yes
Showy Bark
Not Available
No
Foliage Texture
Not Available
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
Glossy
Self-Sowing
Not Available
Yes
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Bees, Birds, Butterflies, pollinators
Allergy
Not Available
Pollen
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Good for skin
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Windbreak
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
Antioxidants, Arthritis, Diarrhea, Dysentry, Fertility, Fever, Inflammation, Kidney problems, scurvy, Urinary tract problems, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for making hedge
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Not Available
Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
Malpighia emarginata
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry and wild crepe myrtle
In Hindi
Earth Star
Acerola Tree
In German
Erdstern
Acerola Baum
In French
Terre étoile
Acerola Arbre
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
Árbol de acerola
In Greek
γη αστεριών
Acerola Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
Árvore acerola
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
Acerola Drzewo
In Latin
terra, stella
Acerola ligno
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Not Available
Class
Liliopsida
Not Available
Order
Bromeliales
Malpighiales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Malpighiaceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Malpighia
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
Not Available, Paperveroideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Season and Care of Earth Star and Acerola
Season and care of Earth Star and Acerola is important to know. While considering everything about Earth Star and Acerola Care, growing season is an essential factor. Earth Star season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Acerola season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Earth Star is Not Available and for Acerola is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Earth Star is Not Available and for Acerola is Alkaline.
Earth Star and Acerola Physical Information
Earth Star and Acerola physical information is very important for comparison. Earth Star height is Not Available and width Not Available whereas Acerola height is 457.20 cm and width 243.84 cm. The color specification of Earth Star and Acerola are as follows:
Earth Star flower color: Not Available
Earth Star leaf color: Not Available
Acerola flower color: Pink
- Acerola leaf color: Light Green and Gray Green
Care of Earth Star and Acerola
Care of Earth Star and Acerola include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Earth Star pruning is done Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves and Acerola pruning is done In Early Autumn, Prune in winter, Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts. In summer Earth Star needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Acerola needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.