Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Perennial
  
Tender Perennial
  
Origin
Hybrid origin
  
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
  
Types
Not Available
  
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Damp Places, Marshy ground
  
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-9
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
9-4
  
Not Available
  
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Not Available
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Not Available
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
Not Available
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange, Pink
  
Not Available
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Gray Green, Light Yellow
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Linear
  
Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
Not Available
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Not Available
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Not Available
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Not Available
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Not Available
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Not Available
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Not Available
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
  
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Needs more water during establishment, Water Deeply, Water in morning to avoid prompting diseases, Water in the early morning hours
  
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Not Available
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Not Available
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Not Available
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Not Available
  
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K
  
Does not require fertilizer once established
  
Pests and Diseases
Onion thrips, Red blotch, Root rot
  
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Moisture
  
Variety of soil types
  
Flowers
Yes
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Not Available
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Not Available
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Not Available
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
Not Available
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
Not Available
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
Not Available
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Not Available
  
Showy Bark
No
  
Not Available
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Not Available
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Not Available
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Not Available
  
Attracts
Snails
  
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover
  
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Other Uses
Not Available
  
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Not Available
  
Botanical Name
KNIPHOFIA 'Border Ballet'
  
CRYPTANTHUS
  
Common Name
Tritoma, Wisley Blue Spring Starflower, Wisley Blue Springstar
  
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
  
In Hindi
Tritoma
  
Earth Star
  
In German
Tritoma
  
Erdstern
  
In French
Tritoma
  
Terre étoile
  
In Spanish
tritoma
  
estrella de la tierra
  
In Greek
tritoma
  
γη αστεριών
  
In Portuguese
Tritoma
  
Estrela da terra
  
In Polish
Tritoma
  
Gwiazda ziemi
  
In Latin
Trytoma
  
terra, stella
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Asparagales
  
Bromeliales
  
Family
Liliaceae
  
Bromeliaceae
  
Genus
Kniphofia
  
Cryptanthus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Bromelioideae