General Plant Information (Edit)
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9a -6.7 °C (20 °F) to -3.9 °C (25 °F)
Plant Height: 6-8 inches
Plant Spread: 10-12 inches
Leaves: Evergreen
Variegated
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Flower Color: White
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Propagation: Other methods: Offsets
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Earth Star
  • Bromeliad

Photo Gallery
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2023-05-01

Date: October 30, 2010

Date: 2019-06-12
Location: Gulf Coast
Date: 2019-07-05
Pups growing on top of plant after small yellow bloom!
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-09-30
'Pink Starlight', 'Red Star' and 'Betty'
Location: Portland Nursery, Portland Or.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Portland Nursery, Portland Or.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: National Botanical Garden (DC) | November 2022
Date: 2022-11-26
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2016-02-08
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2016-09-10
Stays out on patio table under shaded umbrella, except in the dee
Location: Portland Nursery, Portland Or.
  • Uploaded by Joy

Baby plant forming from center of mother plant

Date: Spring 2009
Location: Lincolnton, NC
Date: 2016-10-03
Purple Earth Star

Date: 2013-02-23
Location: BG Bochum (Germany)
Date: 2015-09-23
Non-variegated form - lighter but not sunny spot
Location: BG Bochum (Germany)
Date: 2015-09-23
Non-variegated form - shady spot
Photo by Hamwild
Location: Orangeburg, SC
Date: 2016-03-21
Earth Star, a small bromeliad

Date: 2016-09-29
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2016-11-26
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2016-07-06
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2013-10-10
Photo by Plantomaniac08

Date: 2015-01-24

Date: 2015-01-24
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2016-10-15
This gets deeper pink in fall and winter, in spring it is almost

Date: August 2011
Growing in old bird feeder that was stuffed with spanish moss but
Location: Orlando Florida
Date: 2011-05-17
Cryptanthus bivittatus
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-06-24
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2013-05-10
New plant
Photo by Cinta

Date: 2013-02-23
Location: Austria / Wiener Neustadt
Date: 2015-11-18
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-02-09 
Growing in a carved out Coconut

Date: 2018-11-26
Location: BG Kopenhagen (Denmark)
Date: 2015-09-25
Photo by Plantomaniac08
Location: Pacific Northwest, zone 8
Date: Feb 18, 2012
Photo taken at Al's Garden Center, Woodburn, Oregon
Location: Pacific Northwest, zone 8
Date: Feb 18, 2012
Photo taken at Al's Garden Center, Woodburn, Oregon
Location: At a nursery
Date: 2011-11-22
Location: my garden, Florida
Date: 2018-07-21

Date: 2015-11-24

Date: 2015-11-24
Location: Orlando Florida
Date: 2011-05-17
Cryptanthus bivittatus
Location: Fairfax, VA | August, 2022
Date: 2022-08-21
Location: Van der Veer Botanical Garden  Davenport, Iowa
Date: 2012-07-02
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Dec 4, 2011 5:37 PM concerning plant:
    Native to Brazil, Cryptanthus bivittatus is a slow-growing, spreading bromeliad that has stiff, variegated leaves growing in a rosette form. Mature plants bear small inconspicuous three-petaled white flowers at the center of the rosette, usually in early spring. Cryptanthus gets its common names of Earth Star and Starfish Plant from the form/shape of the plant -- the slim elongated leaves with pointed tips forming a rosette that resembles a star. Propagation is by offsets or little "pups" that form at the base of the parent plant and also at the leaf axils. Cryptanthus bivittatus prefers a well-draining potting medium and bright light. The leaf color will change depending on the light intensity. Keep from direct hot sunlight which will scorch and fade the foliage.
Plant Events from our members
sunkissed On September 3, 2015 Obtained plant
Crofton09 On November 23, 2018 Obtained plant
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Discussion Threads about this plant
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I like them this color!! by indoorplants Jan 28, 2015 6:59 PM 5

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