About

Aechmea fasciata is a perennial plant that maintains its foliage year-round. It develops a rosette of narrow, grey leaves, which surround a compact cluster of small purple flowers. These flowers are accompanied by prominent, bright pink bracts. After flowering, it can produce spherical, woolly white fruit.

About the genus

Aechmea consists of evergreen perennials that develop funnel-like rosettes composed of long, strap-like leaves. At the top, they produce a spike of tubular flowers, frequently accompanied by vibrant, triangular bracts, which are succeeded by fleshy fruits.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Partial shade
Soil type
Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H1B

Plant details

Plant type
Houseplants, Conservatory Greenhouse
Habit
Tufted
Foliage
Evergreen
Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
5-10 years
Suggested uses
City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants
Native to
Brazil

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow outdoors as an epiphyte or in moist, gritty, humus-rich soil, in frost-free location. Under glass grow as an epiphyte or in epiphytic bromeliad compost in bright filtered light
Pruning
No pruning required
Propagation
Propagate by offsets
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to scale insects and mealybugs
Disease resistance
Generally disease-free