Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Southeastern Asia
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
10-11
Sunset Zone
-
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Flower Color
-
White, Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Shape
Linear
V-Shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
-
Partial shade, Full Shade
Type of Soil
-
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
-
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
-
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
From Rhizomes
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
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
-
Well drained
Sun Exposure
-
Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
-
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Allergy
-
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Environmental Uses
Air purification
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Medicinal Uses
-
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
-
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
-
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
ALOCASIA micholitziana
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
Elephant Ear, Taro
In German
Erdstern
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
In French
Terre étoile
Colocasia
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
Colocasia
In Greek
γη αστεριών
Colocasia
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
Colocasia
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
Kolokazja
In Latin
terra, stella
Colocasia
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Liliopsida
Family
Bromeliaceae
Araceae
Genus
Cryptanthus
Alocasia
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
Aroideae
Importance of Earth Star and Taro
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Earth Star and Taro. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Earth Star and Taro 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 Taro is Aging, Laxative and Weight loss. Earth Star has beauty benefits as follows: while Taro has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Earth Star vs Taro
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 Taro 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 Taro have Swelling in mouth and Throat itching respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Earth Star has no showy fruits and Taro has no showy fruits. Also Earth Star is not flowering and Taro is not flowering . You can compare Earth Star and Taro facts and facts of other plants too.