Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Grass
  
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
  
Japan
  
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
  
Not Available
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
  
meadows, Riverbanks, Wet Woods
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
9 - 5
  
Sunset Zone
Not Available
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Not Available
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
Not Available
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Blue Violet
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Purple
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Not Available
  
Yellow, Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Not Available
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Not Available
  
Orange, Yellow green, Orange Red
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Green, Dark Green, Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Linear
  
Oblovate
  
Thorns
Not Available
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Not Available
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Not Available
  
Slow
  
Type of Soil
Not Available
  
Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Not Available
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Not Available
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
Not Available
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Dry soil, Shallow soil
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
  
From Rhizomes
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
  
Keep ground moist
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Consistently
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Adequately
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Not Available
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Not Available
  
Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Not Available
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Not Available
  
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
  
Prune grass to maintain level, Prune if you want to improve plant shape
  
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
  
organic fertlizers
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Not Available
  
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
  
Shade areas, Shallow soil, Wet Site
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Not Available
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Not Available
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Not Available
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
Not Available
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Not Available
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Not Available
  
No
  
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
  
Ants, Beetles, Caterpillar
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
allergic conjunctivitis, Asthma, Rash
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
  
Beautification, Ground Cover
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Provides ground cover, Shadow Tree
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Acne, Aging, Laxative
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Leaves
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
  
Can be made into a herbal tea, Showy Purposes
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Sometimes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Not Available
  
Container, Edging, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
  
HAKONECHLOA macra 'Aureola'
  
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
  
Golden Japanese Forest Grass, Hakone Grass
  
In Hindi
Earth Star
  
जापानी वन घास
  
In German
Erdstern
  
Japanische gras
  
In French
Terre étoile
  
Forêt herbe japonaise
  
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
  
forestales hierba japonesa
  
In Greek
γη αστεριών
  
Ιαπωνικά γρασίδι δάσος
  
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
  
floresta grama japonês
  
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
  
Japoński las lato
  
In Latin
terra, stella
  
Forest gramina Italica
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Angiosperms
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Monocots
  
Order
Bromeliales
  
Poales
  
Family
Bromeliaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Cryptanthus
  
Hachanechloa
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
  
Arundinariinae
  
Number of Species
Not Available