About
An evergreen, slow-growing, clump-forming bromeliad grown as a houseplant to around 60cm in height, with a thick rosette of fleshy, strap-like foliage with irregular dark maroon red and green stripes. A sword-shaped, intense orange flower spike appears from June to July.
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, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1A
Plant details
Plant typeHouseplants
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesHouseplants
Care notes
CultivationUnder glass, grow in pots of standard epiphytic bromeliad compost in bright, indirect light. In the growing season, water moderately, mist daily, and apply balanced liquid feed every month. Keep just moist in winter. See Bromeliad cultivation or houseplant cultivation for further advice
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by division or removal of offsets in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to scale insects
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free