Life Span
Annual
  
Perennial
  
Type
Flowering Plants
  
Tender Perennial
  
Origin
China
  
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
  
Types
Ribbon series, Milady aster
  
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Cold Regions
  
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-9
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
  
Not Available
  
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Not Available
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Not Available
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
Not Available
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Rose, Crimson, Blue Violet
  
Not Available
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
  
Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
Not Available
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial shade
  
Not Available
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Not Available
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Not Available
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Not Available
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Not Available
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Not Available
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Keep ground moist, Never Over-water, Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
  
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Alternate Days
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic
  
Not Available
  
Soil Type
Loamy, Well drained
  
Not Available
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Loamy, Well drained
  
Not Available
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Not Available
  
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
Compost, Well-rotted manure
  
Does not require fertilizer once established
  
Pests and Diseases
fungus
  
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Variety of soil types
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single, Double, Semi-Double
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Not Available
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Not Available
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Not Available
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
Not Available
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
Not Available
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
Not Available
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Not Available
  
Showy Bark
No
  
Not Available
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Not Available
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Not Available
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Not Available
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
  
Allergy
Asthma
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Versatility, Very little waste
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Rheumatism
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
  
Not Available
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Cottage garden, Rock Garden, Showy Tree
  
Not Available
  
Botanical Name
CALLISTEPHUS chinensis
  
CRYPTANTHUS
  
Common Name
China Aster
  
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
  
In Hindi
चीन एस्टर
  
Earth Star
  
In German
China Aster
  
Erdstern
  
In French
Chine Aster
  
Terre étoile
  
In Spanish
aster de China
  
estrella de la tierra
  
In Greek
Κίνα Aster
  
γη αστεριών
  
In Portuguese
China Aster
  
Estrela da terra
  
In Polish
Chiny Aster
  
Gwiazda ziemi
  
In Latin
Sinis Aster
  
terra, stella
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Asterales
  
Bromeliales
  
Family
Asteraceae
  
Bromeliaceae
  
Genus
Callistephus
  
Cryptanthus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Astereae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Asteroideae
  
Bromelioideae