Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tender Perennial
Flowering Plants, Shrubs
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
America
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
Lobelia aberdarica, Lobelia leschenaultiana, Lobelia canbyi
Number of Varieties
480415
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
Open areas, River side, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99994-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
8-1
Sunset Zone
-
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 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
-
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm0.54 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.00 cm0.38 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Blue, Red, Violet, White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Cushion
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Fall, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
-
Full Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
-
Fast
Type of Soil
-
Well drained
The pH of Soil
-
Acidic
Soil Drainage
-
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Early Fall, Early Summer, Late Summer, Mid fall, Mid Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather, Water twice a day in the initial period
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
-
Acidic
Soil Type
-
Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
-
Well drained
Sun Exposure
-
Full 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
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune after flowering, Prune to control growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Botrytis Blight, Crown rot, Pythium rot, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
-
Fine
Foliage Sheen
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Birds, Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
coma, convulsions, Diarrhea, exhaustion, Nausea, salivation, Vomiting, weakness
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
Beautification, Bouquets, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Asthma, Bronchitis, Croup
Part of Plant Used
-
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Bedding Plant, Bog Garden, Edging, Foundation, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
Lobelia laxiflora
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Lobelia
In Hindi
Earth Star
Lobelia
In German
Erdstern
Lobelie
In French
Terre étoile
Lobelia
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
Lobelia
In Greek
γη αστεριών
λοβηλία
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
Lobélia
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
Lobelia
In Latin
terra, stella
Lobelia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Anthophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Dicotyledonae
Order
Bromeliales
Asterales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Campanulaceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Lobelia
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
Lobelioideae
Number of Species
50415
1
27800
👆🏻