Crypanthus Cryptanthus zonatus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- krip-TAN-thus zo-NAH-tus
- Description
-
Zebra Plant is a subtropical perennial herb in the pineapple family that is grown as a house plant in NC. It needs indirect light, as too much sunlight will bleach the showy leaves. It forms a rosette of mid-green leaves with irregular whitish cross bands. Occasionally, it produces a succession of white star-like blooms from the center of the plant.
Provide it with bright indirect light for the best leaf color. For potting, use a mixture with good drainage. Warmth and humidity are essential and regular misting is very beneficial. Give it a warm draft-free area, humidity and indirect light and it will happily grow for you.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are prostrate, wavy, toothed and banded
- Flowers are sessile
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems; Mealybugs and scale are occasional problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Zebrina'
Deep burgundy or nearly black leaves with irregular white cross bands
- 'Zebrina'
- 'Zebrina'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Zebrina'
Deep burgundy or nearly black leaves with irregular white cross bands
- 'Zebrina'
- 'Zebrina'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cryptanthus
- Species:
- zonatus
- Family:
- Bromeliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Brazil
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Houseplant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Occasionally they may produce a short stubby stem from the center of the rosette with white flowers in a terminal stemless corymb.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves form a rosette of green stiff leaves with wavy horizontal bands of silver-gray to cream with a pinkish cast. The leaf margins are wavy and toothed.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity
