Cryptanthus zonatus

‘Zebra Plant’

FAMILY: Cryptanthus

USES: Provides a great tropical effect and accent colour. Used as an edging, accent, border, understorey plant in shade, en masse, in containers, hanging baskets, window boxes or planters. Houseplant.

SIZE: Grows 2 – 2.5m tall with a spread of 3-4m.

LOCATION: Semi shade. Too much shade will reduce the colourful foliar banding and too much sun will bleach out the banding. Does well in coastal and more humid areas, not so good in the drier hotter interior regions.

SOIL: Best in a well-drained, organically enriched, open sandy soil with a pH 5.6 – 7.5, acidic to neutral.

FERTILISER: Apply a slow release 14:14:14 NPK at a rate of 25gr. p/m2 in spring and autumn. Too much fertiliser will lead to oversized plants that are susceptible to insect and disease damage. As this plant is monocarpic over fertilisation will also encourage flowering.

WATER: Keep soil moist. Dry plants will start to shrivel. Does not accept over irrigation or waterlogging which will quickly lead to rot.