How to Grow and Care for Earth star

The earth star (Cryptanthus acaulis) is an incredibly charming and unusual plant that grows in a prostrate manner, creeping along the ground, in tropical climates. This plant gains all of its nutrients from rain and the air through foliar scales, not by roots like most other plants. It is commonly used as a houseplant.

Cryptanthus bivittatus, (commonly known as Earth Star, along with Cryptanthus zonatus zebrinus) is a small, terrestrial species of plant in the Bromeliaceae family. Reaching a height of only 15 to 20 cm and preferring moderate or diffuse light, it is commonly used in terrariums and novelty planters.

A large variety of the earth star plants, earth star 'It' was very popular during the 1960s. The It variety can grow to be 30 cm wide, with pink leaves creeping out from all sides. The pink coloration emerged as a mutation from an all green plant that was brought to the United States from Brazil. 

The name of this striking Cryptanthus bivittatus cultivar, earth star 'Pink Starlight’, refers to the bright pink exteriors of its variegated leaves, which also feature dark and pale green stripes in contrast to the deeper reddish colors of the parent plant. Among gardeners, this cultivar is highly-valued as an ornamental plant that grows well in containers.

The tricolor earth star has splendidly ornamental evergreen leaves which are three-colored, featuring green and creamy white stripes and rosy highlights. The parent Cryptanthus bromelioides is similar but lacks the red tinges. The cultivar is named 'Tricolor' as an obvious description of the plant's most striking feature, which gives this plant its year-round garden appeal.