Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Argentina, Chile
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
-
Number of Varieties
4802
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
Hardwood forests, pine woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99997-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
-
Sunset Zone
-
21,22
Habit
-
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
White, Purple, Rose, Violet, Plum, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Dark Green, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
-
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
-
Medium
Type of Soil
-
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
-
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
-
Average
Bloom Time
-
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings, Semi-hardwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
-
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
-
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
-
Average
Sun Exposure
-
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Bacterial fruit blotch, Downy mildew, Gall Insects, Mites, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
Drought, Shade areas
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
-
Medium
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Birds, Insects
Allergy
-
Hives, inflammation in lips, Sore Throat, Swelling in the face
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Glowing Skin, Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for animals, Food for birds
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Analgesic, Anodyne, Antirheumatic, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Carminative
Part of Plant Used
-
Fruits, Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
For making oil, For making oil for cosmetics, Medicinal oil, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Container, Edging, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
Gaultheria procumbens
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Eastern teaberry, checkerberry, American wintergreen
In Hindi
Earth Star
boxberry
In German
Erdstern
boxberry
In French
Terre étoile
boxberry
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
boxberry
In Greek
γη αστεριών
boxberry
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
boxberry
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
boxberry
In Latin
terra, stella
Burning
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Bromeliales
Ericales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Ericaceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Gaultheria
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Gaultherieae
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
Vaccinioideae
Number of Species
50141
1
27800
👆🏻