Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual and Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Tender Perennial
  
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
  
Southern Europe, Mediterranean
  
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, Prairies
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
7-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
9-7
  
Sunset Zone
Not Available
  
4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Not Available
  
Mat-forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
Not Available
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Blue, Lavender
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Not Available
  
Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Not Available
  
Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Not Available
  
Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Linear
  
Linear
  
Thorns
Not Available
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Not Available
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Not Available
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Not Available
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Not Available
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Not Available
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
Not Available
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
  
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
  
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, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Not Available
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Not Available
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Not Available
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Not Available
  
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
  
Cut or pinch the stems, Do not prune during shooting season, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune prior to new growth, Remove deadheads
  
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
  
No fertilizers needed
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
fungus, Insects, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Not Available
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Not Available
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Not Available
  
No
  
Showy Bark
Not Available
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Not Available
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Not Available
  
No
  
Attracts
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
  
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
  
Beautification, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
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
  
Showy Purposes
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Not Available
  
Alpine, Container, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
  
Botanical Name
CRYPTANTHUS
  
ERYSIMUM linifolium
  
Common Name
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
  
Wallflower
  
In Hindi
Earth Star
  
wallflower
  
In German
Erdstern
  
Goldlack
  
In French
Terre étoile
  
giroflée and ravenelle
  
In Spanish
estrella de la tierra
  
Alhelí
  
In Greek
γη αστεριών
  
Μη χορεύων θεατής χορού
  
In Portuguese
Estrela da terra
  
goivo-amarelo
  
In Polish
Gwiazda ziemi
  
Lak
  
In Latin
terra, stella
  
Wallflower
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Bromeliales
  
Brassicales
  
Family
Bromeliaceae
  
Brassicaceae
  
Genus
Cryptanthus
  
Erysimum
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Bromelioideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available