About
Aechmea nudicaulis is an evergreen perennial that develops a rosette of narrow, spine-tipped, grey-green foliage. Its flowers are small and yellow, arranged in spikes on stems reaching up to 70 cm, surrounded by prominent red bracts.
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
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1B
Plant details
- Plant type
- Houseplants, Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Tufted
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 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
- Mexico to S Am.
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow under glass or indoors in a epiphytic bromeliad compost in bright filtered light and low humidity. In the growing season water freely and apply a low nitrogen fertiliser monthly. Keep the central ""cup"" filled with soft water. Can be grown outdoors epiphytically in a warm, moist site or in moist, gritty, humus-rich soil
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by rooting offsets in early summer
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insects and mealybugs
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free