Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Herbs
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Mexico, Central America, South America
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
Number of Varieties
4801
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
shrublands, tropical grasslands
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-1
Sunset Zone
-
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
-
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm45.70 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.00 cm50.80 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Light Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
-
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
-
Very Fast
Type of Soil
-
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
-
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
-
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
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
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
-
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
-
Clay, 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
Pest Free
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Bees, Flies
Allergy
-
allergic reaction, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Detoxification, Insect Bites, Stomach pain, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms
Part of Plant Used
-
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Pesticide, The essential oil is used as insect repellent
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Container, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
CHENOPODIUM ambrosioides
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Mexican Tea
In Hindi
Earth Star
Dysphania ambrosioides
In German
Erdstern
Mexikanischer Drüsengänsefuß
In French
Terre étoile
Épazote
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Greek
γη αστεριών
Μεξικού τσάι
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
Komosa piżmowa
In Latin
terra, stella
Dysphania ambrosioides
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Bromeliales
Caryophyllales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Chenopodiaceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Dysphania
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Dysphanieae
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
Chenopodioideae
Number of Species
5030
1
27800
👆🏻