Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Southeastern Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
-
Number of Varieties
4803
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
-999910-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-9
Sunset Zone
-
H2, 23, 24
Habit
-
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm1,370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.00 cm1,520.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Maple shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
-
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
-
Very Fast
Type of Soil
-
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
-
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
-
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
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
Water daily during growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Moderate
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
-
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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
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
Aphids, Insects
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
-
Medium
Foliage Sheen
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Nausea, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
For treating wrinkles, Moisturizing, used as a dye
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Cramps, Dermatitis
Part of Plant Used
-
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Can be made into a herbal tea, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Sauces, Used as firewood
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
ALEURITES moluccanus
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Candleberry, Candlenut, Kukui
In Hindi
Earth Star
Aleurites moluccanus
In German
Erdstern
Lichtnussbaum
In French
Terre étoile
Aleurites moluccana
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
Aleurites moluccanus
In Greek
γη αστεριών
Aleurites moluccanus
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Latin
terra, stella
Aleurites moluccanus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Bromeliales
Euphorbiales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Aleurites
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Aleuritideae
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
Crotonoideae
Number of Species
5050
1
27800
👆🏻