Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Herbs
  
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
  
China, Japan, Korea
  
Types
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
  
Not Available
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
  
gardens, Grassland, Homesteads, Open areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
9-4
  
Sunset Zone
Not Available
  
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Not Available
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
Not Available
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Not Available
  
Green, Light Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Not Available
  
Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Not Available
  
Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Linear
  
Round
  
Thorns
Not Available
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Not Available
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Growth Rate
Not Available
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Not Available
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Not Available
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Not Available
  
Poorly Drained
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Early Spring, Late Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
Not Available
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
  
Divison, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
  
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Keep ground moist, Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Over-head watering, Requires watering in the growing season
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Not Available
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Not Available
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Not Available
  
Poorly Drained
  
Sun Exposure
Not Available
  
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
  
Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning, Shape and thin as needed
  
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
  
Wet Site
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Not Available
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Not Available
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Not Available
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Not Available
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
Not Available
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Not Available
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Not Available
  
No
  
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
  
Not Available
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Not Available
  
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
  
PETASITES japonicus 'Variegatus'
  
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
  
Giant Butterbur, Japanese Butterbur, Variegated Butterbur
  
In Hindi
Earth Star
  
variegated butterbur
  
In German
Erdstern
  
bunte Pestwurz
  
In French
Terre étoile
  
pétasite panachée
  
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
  
butterbur abigarrado
  
In Greek
γη αστεριών
  
διαφοροποιημένα butterbur
  
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
  
butterbur variegada
  
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
  
barwny Lepiężnik
  
In Latin
terra, stella
  
varius butterbur
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Bromeliales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Bromeliaceae
  
Asteraceae
  
Genus
Cryptanthus
  
Petasites
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Senecioneae
  
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
  
Not Available