Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Madagascar
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
Broadleaf evergreen
Number of Varieties
48040
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
Tropical areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
-999910-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-1
Sunset Zone
-
H2, 21, 23, 24
Habit
-
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Yellow
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Red, Olive, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Red, Olive, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Red, Olive, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Linear
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
-
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
-
Slow
Type of Soil
-
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
-
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
-
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
Water occasionally
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
-
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
-
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
-
Well drained
Sun Exposure
-
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 leaves
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
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
-
Fine
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
-
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Headache, Healing, Sore Eyes
Part of Plant Used
-
Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Air freshner, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
DRACAENA marginata
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Madagascar Dragon Tree
In Hindi
Earth Star
Dracaena marginata
In German
Erdstern
Dracaena marginata
In French
Terre étoile
Dracaena marginata
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
Dracaena marginata
In Greek
γη αστεριών
Dracaena marginata
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
marginata do Dracaena
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
Dracena marginata
In Latin
terra, stella
Dracaena marginata
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Bromeliales
Liliales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Agavaceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Dracaena
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
-
Number of Species
501
1
27800
👆🏻