A large growing beauty by Stephen Hoppin can grow to a 24 inch rosette. The color is black to dark chocolate brown, glossy with wavy, silvery cross bands. Some silver shading in the leaves. Leaf tips turn downward. 'Ebony Beauty' x (x Roseus)

*Domestic shipping only

Published as a new species in 2001, this Cryptanthus is native to the Atlantic rainforest in the State of Alagoas originally collected near the town of Paripueira, but its entire range occurs in the lowland forest along the Atlantic coast from the State of Espírito Santo to Pernambuco.  It is a terrestrial, shortly caulescent, about 4 inches tall, propagating on slender basal stolons 6 to 8-inches long.  About 12 bronze green leaves are sub-spreading at flowering forming an open, oval rosette to about 24-inches in diameter.  The leaf bases are a pale purple-red with some scurfing in the axils and glabrous the entire length of the leaf with just a hint of scurf at the tips.  While the underside is densely covered in white trichomes.

This species is very closely related to pseudopetiolatus and pickelii, and part of the maritimus complex.

A rare species with very wide leaves having silver trichomes forming a solid coating over the entire leaf surface, hence giving its scientific specific name argyrophyllus meaning 'silver leaf.'  There are a couple of ridges apparent running the length of the leaves, but they are the same base color as the rest of the leaf.

***This species is prone to fungus spotting due to culture in a typical potting mix.  So for best results, we recommend growing this particular species in a dirty Turface® mix, equal parts peat based potting mix and Turface® All Sport, a calcined clay product.  Fill the bottom of your pot with a shallow layer of potting mix, this prevents the Turface® mix from running out the bottom of your pot, and the remainder with the dirty Turface® mix.