Star Fish Plant Cryptanthus zonatus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cryptanthus burle-marxii
- Phonetic Spelling
- krip-TAN-thus zo-NAH-tus
- Description
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Zebra plant is a tropical, terrestrial, evergreen herbaceous perennial in the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae) grown as a house plant in NC. It is native to Brazil. The genus name means "hidden flower," The species epithet means “banded.”
Provide it with bright indirect light for the best leaf color. For potting, use a mixture with good drainage. Warmth and humidity are essential. Give it a warm draft-free area, humidity and indirect light and it will happily grow for you. Too much sunlight will bleach the showy leaves.
It forms a flat rosette of mid-green leaves with irregular whitish cross bands and undulating, serrated margins. Occasionally, it produces a succession of white star-like blooms from the center of the plant.
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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Open
- Prostrate
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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
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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.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Denticulate
- 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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity
