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Getting To Know Eight Beautiful Bromeliads

In the following article, eight of the most popular, easy-to-grow bromeliads are described in detail. They are listed in alphabetical order by botanical name, but you may not know a bromeliad’s botanical name if you bought it without benefit of an identification tag. The following chart will help you identify which bromeliad you have, so that you can then turn to the appropriate plant profile to get to know your bromeliad better.

Getting To Know Eight Beautiful Bromeliads

Aechmea fasciata (Urn plant or silver vase plant) - Stiff gray-green leaves form an upright vase shape. Mature plants produce pinkish orange bracts.

Ananas comosus ‘Variegatus’ (Ivory pineapple or variegated pineapple) - Long green leaves with ivory edges stubbed with sharp spikes. Mature plants produce small, brown pineapples at their tops.

Billbergia nutans (Queen’s tears or friendship plant) - Long, leathery green leaves arch outward. Mature plants produce bright red bracts on arching stems.

Cryptanthus acaulis (Earth star or starfish plant) - Small plants comprised of wavy, sharp-tipped leaves, often with red, pink, and green longitudinal stripes. Flowers are hidden by foliage as plants grow into clumps.

Guzmania lingulata (Scarlet star) - Glossy, dark green leaves arch outward. Mature plants produce showy bracts that may be wine or bright red, orange, yellow, mauve, or lavender, depending on the variety.

Neoregelia carolinae ‘Tricolor’ (Blushing bromeliad or cartwheel plant) - Leaves with cream stripes down the centers spiral outward to give plant a flattened shape. As plant develops low flowers, the leaf base turns red.

Tillandsia species (Pink quill, air plant, or sky plant) - Thin, scaly leaves have a grass-like texture. Plants have very few roots, and are usually grown on a piece of wood or mounted in a seashell.

Vriesea splendens (Flaming sword, painted feather, or zebra bromeliad) - Still, light green leaves feature bands of brown or mahogany. Mature plants produce a long flower spike topped with bold orange-red bracts.

May 10, 2007 comment TrackBack-URI