About

A rosette-forming bromeliad from Chile with a compact, stemless rosette of stiff, arching, dark green leaves with spiny margins and a dense central flower spike bearing tubular, red or orange flowers, followed by ornamental berries in summer. A striking and architectural bromeliad for a sheltered, mild garden or cool glasshouse.

About the genus

Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing, North-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6

Plant details

Plant typeTrees
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Native toNepal

Care notes

CultivationGrow in moderately fertile soil in full sun
PruningPruning group 1. Only light pruning required. Prune in mid-summer if silver leaf is a problem
PropagationPropagate by seed, chip budding or grafting, although softwood cuttings in early summer with bottom heat may also be successful
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to caterpillars, leaf-mining moths and bullfinches
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to peach leaf curl, silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and honey fungus. High Risk Host for Xylella fastidiosa