About

A tender, evergreen perennial forming a rosette of arching, strap-shaped glossy, dark-green leaves with erect spikes of scarlet bracts surrounding tubular, yellow flowers.

About the genus

Vriesea are evergreen epiphytic perennials forming rosettes of strap-shaped, often attractively marbled leaves, with erect spikes of flowers with showy bracts in summer or autumn

Growing conditions

SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHAcid
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectNorth-facing, East-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1A

Plant details

Plant typeHouseplants
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesHouseplants

Care notes

CultivationGrow under glass, ideally attached to bark or branches. Alternatively, grow in pots of standard bromeliad potting compost in moderate, indirect light. Mist daily and apply quarter strength foliar feed every 4-5 weeks. Be careful not to overwater in Winter, keep moist. See Bromeliad cultivation
PruningRemove faded flower spikes and foliage as needed
PropagationRemove plantlets or remove offsets in Spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to scale insects
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free