Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Shrub
  
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
  
Eastern Asia, China, Japan, Korea
  
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
  
gardens, Woodland Garden Secondary, Woodlands
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
4-7
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
8-2
  
Sunset Zone
Not Available
  
A3, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Not Available
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
Not Available
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Red
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Red, Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Not Available
  
Red, Burgundy, Dark Red, Copper
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Not Available
  
Red, Green, Bronze
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Not Available
  
Red, Crimson, Orange Red
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Linear
  
Palmate
  
Thorns
Not Available
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Not Available
  
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Not Available
  
Slow
  
Type of Soil
Not Available
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Not Available
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Not Available
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Not Available
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
  
Budding, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
  
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Not Available
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Not Available
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Not Available
  
Average
  
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
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K, since leafy plants, use higher nitrogen content fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Aphids, Beetles, Mealybugs, Red blotch, Scale, Sooty Mold
  
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
  
Drought, Full Sun, Shade areas
  
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
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Not Available
  
No
  
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
  
Bonsai, Borders
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Sap
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
  
Used as preservative
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Not Available
  
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
  
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
  
ACER palmatum 'Skeeter's Broom'
  
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
  
Downy Japanese Maple, Fullmoon Maple, Japanese Maple
  
In Hindi
Earth Star
  
Japanese Maple
  
In German
Erdstern
  
japanischer Ahorn
  
In French
Terre étoile
  
érable du Japon
  
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
  
arce japonés
  
In Greek
γη αστεριών
  
Japanese Maple
  
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
  
bordo japonês
  
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
  
Klon japoński
  
In Latin
terra, stella
  
Acer palmatum
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Bromeliales
  
Sapindales
  
Family
Bromeliaceae
  
Aceraceae
  
Genus
Cryptanthus
  
Acer
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available