Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Eastern Africa
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
-
Number of Varieties
48015
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
Rocky Ridges, Shores of rivers or lakes, Tropical Climate, tropical environments
USDA Hardiness Zone
-999911-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
7-1
Sunset Zone
-
H1, 23, 24
Habit
-
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm25.40 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.00 cm25.40 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Purple, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
-
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
-
Slow
Type of Soil
-
Loam
The pH of Soil
-
Neutral
Soil Drainage
-
Average
Bloom Time
-
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings, stem tip cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
Keep ground moist, Keep the Soil well drained, Medium, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
-
Neutral
Soil Type
-
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
-
Average
Sun Exposure
-
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Pinch Tips, Prune prior to new growth, Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Grey mold, Leaf spot, Mites, Root rot
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
-
Fine
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Butterflies, Flying insects, Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
Bouquets, Cut Flowers, Decorating walls, Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
-
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for bedding in gardens
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Container, Edging, Houseplant, Tropical
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
EXACUM affine
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
German Violet, Persian Violet
In Hindi
Earth Star
persian violet
In German
Erdstern
persian violet
In French
Terre étoile
persian violet
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
Violeta persa
In Greek
γη αστεριών
Περσικό Violet
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
Violeta persa
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
Persian Violet
In Latin
terra, stella
hyacinthum Persarum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Bromeliales
Gentianales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Gentianaceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Exacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Exaceae
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
-
Number of Species
5025
1
27800
👆🏻