Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
North America, United States, Northwestern United States, Alaska, California, Canada
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
-
Number of Varieties
48030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
Lowland evergreen rainforest
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99994-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
7-1
Sunset Zone
-
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
-
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.00 cm1,370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.00 cm610.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Yellow, Red, Coral
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
-
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
-
Fast
Type of Soil
-
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
-
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
-
Average
Bloom Time
-
Early Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Maritime exposure, Salt water
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Layering, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
Average Water Needs
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
-
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
-
Average
Sun Exposure
-
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, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
-
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
Maritime exposure, Salt water
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
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
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Insects
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Anodyne, Appetizer, Astringent
Part of Plant Used
-
Flowers, Inner Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Used as a dye, used for making charcoal, Used for making informal hedge
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
ALNUS rubra
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Oregon Alder, Red Alder
In Hindi
Earth Star
red alder
In German
Erdstern
rot-Erle
In French
Terre étoile
aulne rouge
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
aliso rojo
In Greek
γη αστεριών
κόκκινη σκλήθρα
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
amieiro vermelho
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
czerwony olcha
In Latin
terra, stella
red alnus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Bromeliales
Fagales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Alnus
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
-
Number of Species
5035
1
27800
👆🏻