Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Fruit
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Southeastern Asia
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
Starfruit
Number of Varieties
4802
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-999910-14
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
11-5
Sunset Zone
-
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
-
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.00 cm610.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Pink, Rose, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Yellow, Orange, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
-
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
-
Slow
Type of Soil
-
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
-
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
-
Average
Bloom Time
-
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Frost
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
Average Water Needs, Requires watering in the growing season
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
-
Loam, Sand
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
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
Fertilize every year
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Red blotch
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
-
Medium
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Kidney Stone
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, High blood pressure, Nutrients
Part of Plant Used
-
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
AVERRHOA carambola
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Carambola, Starfruit
In Hindi
Earth Star
carambola पेड़
In German
Erdstern
Sternfrucht Baum
In French
Terre étoile
arbre carambole
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
árbol de carambola
In Greek
γη αστεριών
carambola δέντρο
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
árvore de carambola
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
karambola drzewo
In Latin
terra, stella
carambola ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Bromeliales
Oxalidales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Oxalidaceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Averrhoa
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
-
Number of Species
50180
1
27800
👆🏻