Plant Profile: Cryptanthus zonatus

Names

Crypanthus, Earth's Stars, Pheasant Plant, Star Fish Plant, Zebra Plant

  • Photo of Cryptanthus zonatus (Cryptanthus zonatuss)

Phonetic Spelling:krip-TAN-thus zo-NAH-tus

Genus:Cryptanthus

Species:zonatus

Family:Bromeliaceae

The Zebra Plant, a perennial herb from the pineapple family, thrives as a houseplant in North Carolina's subtropical climate. It prefers indirect sunlight, as excessive exposure can cause its vibrant leaves to lose their color. The plant showcases a rosette of medium-green foliage adorned with irregular white crossbands. Occasionally, it may produce a series of star-shaped white flowers from its center.

To ensure optimal leaf coloration, provide bright, indirect light. When potting, select a soil mix that offers excellent drainage. This plant thrives in warm, humid conditions, so regular misting is highly beneficial. Place it in a warm, draft-free environment with adequate humidity and indirect light, and it will flourish.

**Quick Identification Tips:**
Be aware of potential issues such as mealybugs and scale, which can occasionally affect the plant.

Cryptanthus zonatus Feature Summary

Cryptanthus zonatus Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#houseplant
#white flowers
#showy
#showy leaves
#interiorscape
#winter interest
#groundcover
#fantz
#humidity tolerant
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats
#container plants

Similar Plants

Cryptanthus zonatus is often confused with:

Cryptanthus zonatus Feature Summary

Flowers
Occasionally they may produce a short stubby stem from the center of the rosette with white flowers in a terminal stemless corymb.
< 1 inch
Leaves
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.
Variegated
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Pink
Linear
Lanceolate
Dentate
Undulate
Showy
Long-lasting
Whole Plant Traits
Houseplant
Ground Cover
Clumping
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
10a
10b
11a
11b
12a
12b
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Landscape

Cryptanthus zonatus Attributes

Cryptanthus zonatus: Country Or Region Of Origin

Brazil

Cryptanthus zonatus: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Cryptanthus zonatus: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Cryptanthus zonatus Flowers

Cryptanthus zonatus: Flower Description

Occasionally they may produce a short stubby stem from the center of the rosette with white flowers in a terminal stemless corymb.

Cryptanthus zonatus: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Cryptanthus zonatus: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Cryptanthus zonatus: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Cryptanthus zonatus: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Cryptanthus zonatus: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Cryptanthus zonatus Leaves

Cryptanthus zonatus: 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.

Cryptanthus zonatus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Cryptanthus zonatus: Leaf Color

spa
Brown/Copper
spa
Pink
spa
Red/Burgundy
spa
Variegated

Cryptanthus zonatus: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Cryptanthus zonatus: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Cryptanthus zonatus: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Cryptanthus zonatus: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Cryptanthus zonatus: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Cryptanthus zonatus: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Cryptanthus zonatus Whole Plant Traits

Cryptanthus zonatus: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Cryptanthus zonatus: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Cryptanthus zonatus: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Cryptanthus zonatus: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Cryptanthus zonatus: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Cryptanthus zonatus Cultural Conditions

Cryptanthus zonatus: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Cryptanthus zonatus: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Cryptanthus zonatus: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Cryptanthus zonatus: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
12a
thermostat
12b

Cryptanthus zonatus: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Cryptanthus zonatus Stem

Cryptanthus zonatus: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Cryptanthus zonatus Landscape

Cryptanthus zonatus: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Cryptanthus zonatus: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Cryptanthus zonatus: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland