Getting To Know Eight Beautiful Bromeliads
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Classification, Growing Indoors, Growing Outdoors
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.
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I HAVE HAD MY BROMELIAD FOR A WHILE AT FIRST IT HAD A BIG PINK STIFF BLOOM ON IT WITH PURPLE IN THE BLOOM. BUT NOW I CANT GET IT TO BLOOM AGAIN. CAN U HELP ME.
Hello Kevin:
Bromeledias only bloom once in the lifetime of an individual head on a plant. After that head has bloomed, the flower will eventually die, then that head will seed additional plants from itself (called pups). They will mature, and carry out the same cycle. This continues for the lfie of the plant. Good luck.
My bromeliad bloomed a pink flower. It died then I had one pup half the size of the mother so I Took off the pup and planted it. Now the mother plant’s leaves around the base are dying and mushy and it keeps leaning so i put it deeper. Any suggestions?
Christine, this is a normal part of your bromeliads life cycle. Most bromeliads only bloom once before producing pups and dying off. Their pups are their legacy. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything you can do to save your mother plant.
My bromeliad is red/yellow,flat,plastic looking.looks kinda like a plastic fish.ore than a flower..will it bloom??has it already? I worked in the store that sold them in April,I brought it home.its looked the same ever since..I also bought my mom a bigger one,with pink ,red ,yellow pointy flowers. At the time I thought mine would open up n look like my moms??? But how can it be months behind???I only have 1 n she has 3open flowers in her pot….please ,any info would be greatly appreciated..I’m lost????
My bromeliad looks like a red/yellow plastic fish???what kind could it be???how do I care for it???will it ever open ,look like a flower or is this the flower???thank u for any info