Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Perennial
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
Ratibida columnifera
Number of Varieties
48025
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
Dry areas, Prairies, Rocky areas, rocky outcrops
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99993-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
10-1
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
-
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Yellow, Purple, Burgundy, Light Green, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Subulate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
-
Full Sun
Growth Rate
-
Fast
Type of Soil
-
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
-
Neutral
Soil Drainage
-
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
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
Average Water Needs, Water in morning to avoid prompting diseases
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
-
Neutral
Soil Type
-
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
-
Well drained
Sun Exposure
-
Full Sun
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, Pinch Tips, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
Drought, Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun
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
-
Fine
Foliage Sheen
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Rhinitis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
Borders
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Analgesic
Part of Plant Used
-
Flowers
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Can be made into a herbal tea, Used in making tea
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
RATIBIDA columnifera
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Mexican Hat
In Hindi
Earth Star
Mexican Hat
In German
Erdstern
Mexican Hat
In French
Terre étoile
Mexican Hat
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
mexican Hat
In Greek
γη αστεριών
Mexican Hat
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
Mexican Hat
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
Mexican Hat
In Latin
terra, stella
Mexicanus Hat
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Bromeliales
Asterales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Asteraceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Ratibida
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
-
Number of Species
5014
1
27800
👆🏻