Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Western United States, California, Mexico
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
Calocedrus decurrens
Number of Varieties
4801
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
low mountains, Mountain tops, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99995-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
8-1
Sunset Zone
-
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
-
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm2,130.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.00 cm180.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
-
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
-
Slow
Type of Soil
-
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
-
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
-
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
Needs less watering, 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
Soil Type
-
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
-
Well drained
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 if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Insects
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
Drought
Flowers
Showy
-
Flower Petal Number
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
Birds
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
-
Stomach pain
Part of Plant Used
-
Bark, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Making Perfumes, Used in pencil industry
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
CALOCEDRUS decurrens
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Incense Cedar
In Hindi
Earth Star
Incense Cedar
In German
Erdstern
Zeder
In French
Terre étoile
Encens Cedar
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
cedro de incienso
In Greek
γη αστεριών
θυμίαμα Κέδρος
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
cedro de incenso
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
kadzidło Cedar
In Latin
terra, stella
incensum Cedar
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Pinopsida
Order
Bromeliales
Pinales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Cupressaceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Calocedrus
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
-
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
-
Number of Species
5050
1
27800
👆🏻