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
Southern Europe, Mediterranean
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
Silver Lace, Cirrus
Number of Varieties
4803
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
Coastal Regions, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99997-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-1
Sunset Zone
-
H1, H2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
-
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm20.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
White, Yellow, Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Blue Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Blue Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Blue Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
-
Full Sun
Growth Rate
-
Medium
Type of Soil
-
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
-
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
-
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply
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
-
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
-
Well drained
Sun Exposure
-
Full Sun
Pruning
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Blight, Downy mildew, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Rust, White mold
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Flying insects, Insects
Allergy
-
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation, Skin rash, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Headache, Menstrual Disorders, Migraines
Part of Plant Used
-
Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Edging, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
CENTAUREA cineraria
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Silver dust
In Hindi
Earth Star
डस्टी मिलर
In German
Erdstern
Dusty Miller
In French
Terre étoile
Dusty Miller
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
Dusty Miller
In Greek
γη αστεριών
Dusty Miller
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
Dusty Miller
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
Dusty Miller
In Latin
terra, stella
Dusty Cicero
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Anthophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Bromeliales
Asterales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Asteraceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Centaurea
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Cynareae
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
Carduoideae
Number of Species
501
1
27800
👆🏻