Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
8-15
Sunset Zone
-
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Flower Color
-
White, Red, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Multi-Color
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Linear
Lance shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
-
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
-
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
-
Acidic, Neutral
Bloom Time
-
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
-
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage Capacity
-
Average
Sun Exposure
-
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
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
-
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Butterflies
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Part of Plant Used
-
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
-
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
ALPINIA zerumbet
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Shell Ginger
In Hindi
Earth Star
Shell Ginger
In German
Erdstern
Shell Ginger
In French
Terre étoile
Shell Ginger
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
Shell jengibre
In Greek
γη αστεριών
Shell Τζίντζερ
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
Shell Ginger
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
Shell Imbir
In Latin
terra, stella
Crusta Ginger
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Bromeliales
Zingiberales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Zingiberaceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Alpinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
Alpinioideae
Importance of Earth Star and Shell Ginger
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Earth Star and Shell Ginger. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Earth Star and Shell Ginger as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Earth Star is whereas of Shell Ginger is Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic and Hypotensive. Earth Star has beauty benefits as follows: while Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Earth Star vs Shell Ginger
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Earth Star vs Shell Ginger and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Earth Star are whereas of Shell Ginger have Rash respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Earth Star has no showy fruits and Shell Ginger has no showy fruits. Also Earth Star is not flowering and Shell Ginger is not flowering . You can compare Earth Star and Shell Ginger facts and facts of other plants too.