Description
Aechmea chantinii – Considered the queen of the Aechmeas is native to Southeast Columbia and Northeast Peru grows 2’ feet tall and wide. The strap shape 16” long olive green leaves are edge with short brown spines and is cross-banded in silvery-grayish with white forming a vase like rosette. In summer a pyramidal inflorescences 6” long with short spikes of up to 8 bright yellow-orange flower 1 ¼” long on erect white-scaly red bracted stems followed by egg shape greenish red fruit. This species will tolerant light frost.
Zones 9
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.
