About
A compact, clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial to about 20cm tall from New Zealand and Australia with narrow, mid-green leaves and small, tubular, blue-violet flowers borne on erect stems in summer. A delicate and charming plant for a moist, shaded rock garden or woodland border.
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
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1A
Plant details
Plant typeConservatory Greenhouse
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants
Native toGuyana
Care notes
CultivationGrow under glass, ideally attached to bark or branches. Alternatively, grow in pots of standard bromeliad potting compost in moderate light. In growth mist daily and apply quarter strength foliar feed every 4-5 weeks. Keep just moist in winter. See Bromeliad cultivation
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed, or remove offsets in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to scale insects
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free