Cryptanthus bivittatus Super Pink - Earth star

Cryptanthus bivittatus 'Super Pink', also known as Earth Star, is a small terrestrial bromeliad grown as a houseplant or terrarium plant. Its low-growing rosette, with finely crinkled leaves, is intense pink, highlighted with silvery green. It is compact and will find its place on a shelf, a windowsill, or within a tropical terrarium.

Cryptanthus bivittatus belongs to the Bromeliaceae family, like Guzmania. This species is native to the tropical forests of eastern Brazil, where it grows on the ground, between rocks or stumps, in moist litter layers.
The 'Super Pink' cultivar is a recent horticultural acquisition, selected for its very pink foliage. The plant forms a compact rosette 10 to 15 cm tall and 15 to 20 cm in diameter. The evergreen, narrow, lanceolate leaves can reach 15 to 20 cm in length; they are slightly arched, finely toothed, and arranged in a radiating pattern. The pink foliage striped with silvery green will be more colourful in bright light, the underside remaining paler, spotted with the small, light scales typical of terrestrial bromeliads. In the centre of the rosette, tiny white flowers with three petals sometimes appear, discreet and almost hidden by the leaves. After flowering, the main rosette tends to die, producing numerous offsets at its base, which allows the plant to renew itself over the years.
Cryptanthus is not listed as a known toxic plant for humans or pets, but, as with most houseplants, it is best to avoid ingestion.

Indoors, the Earth Star appreciates bright light without direct sun, a warm and humid atmosphere (16 to 27 °C), and shelter from cold draughts. It is an easy houseplant for beginners, provided you monitor air humidity and avoid excess stagnant water, which would cause the roots to rot.
It particularly thrives in bright rooms where the air remains fairly humid. A bathroom with a window, a bright kitchen, a terrarium, or a warm greenhouse will suit it well.

In a contemporary interior, Cryptanthus 'Super Pink' will be showcased in a white or grey ceramic planter. In a terrarium, it can form the focal point of a miniature tropical scene: place it slightly elevated, surrounded by a carpet of mosses and woodland plants. It pairs particularly well with a Fittonia 'Pink Special', a small Neoregelia, as well as Selaginella apoda or a Peperomia prostrata trailing plant. Together, these plants create a mini lush décor, ideal for a jungle corner on a desk, a console, or in a large glass terrarium.