Description
Achmea weilbachii- Native to Southeastern Brazil this bromeliad reaches 28” tall and a foot wide. The strap like dark green leaves often-tinged purple with almost smooth edges form a star shaped rosette. In summer pink stems bear slender inflorescences 6” long composed of spikes of 5-10 red bracted and bluish purple flowers ½” long followed by ellipsoid rough lilac-red fruit.
Zones 14-15
Aechmea –
There are about 200 species of bromeliads in this genus. Often spread by horizontal roots growing above or below ground, it’s an evergreen native to South America and the West Indies and some from South America. The name Aechmea is of Greek origins with numerous ways to pronounce it. Its usually a rock dweller conserving water in its vase like structure formed by rosette of stiff, strap like to triangular like leaves. The leaves may be barred or striped otherwise patterned with prickly edges in some species. They have long lasting brightly colored tubular flowers and triangular (petal like) bracts usually grown in a warm greenhouses and used as a houseplant.
Grow in bromeliad potting mix in bright filtered light with moderate to high humidity and excellent air circulation. Apply low or fertilizer with no nitrogen monthly. Keep central stalk filled with water.
Prone to scale insects, mealy bugs especially when flowering, Helminthosporium leaf spot, and crown rots caused by a variety fungi, bacteria are common and excess watering also contributes to fungal root rots.
