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Guzmania

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
guz-MAY-nee-uh
Description

Bromeliads are tropical, epiphytic, evergreen herbaceous perennials in the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae). They are found over a wide area from Florida and the Caribbean to Mexico, Central and South America. The genus name honors Anastasio Guzman, a Spanish pharmacist and naturalist. Over 200 species are recognized, along with numerous hybrids and cultivars. They are tank-forming bromeliads, meaning their rosette of leaves impounds water.

Bromeliads need full sun to shade, depending on the species, and heat and high humidity. As the plants are epiphytes, use a bark-based potting mix made for orchids, or houseplant mix with added bark and perlite. The central tank should be kept full of water and should be replaced periodically, allowing overflow water to trickle down to the root zone. Liquid fertilizer (diluted to half-strength) should be applied in the tank periodically when the plant is in active growth. They can also be grown as an epiphyte on wood with the roots bound with sphagnum moss. Spraying with water daily is usually sufficient to keep the tank filled with water. These plants produce a showy flower from the center of the plant. Offsets will appear at the base after the bloom fades and can be removed when they are about one-third as large as the flowering plant. 

They can grow up to 3 feet in height and 2 feet in width with stemless strap-like leaves growing in a rosette. The leaves can be green or variegated. The small flowers are often surrounded by colorful bracts. 

These plants are prized for their beautiful, long-lasting, torch-like inflorescence with showy bright red or yellow bracts. Use these plants as a houseplant or grow them in a container that can be brought indoors when temperatures cool. 

Quick ID Hints:

  • Leaves are entire, without marginal teeth.
  • Inflorescence is torch-like at the end of the flower scape

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. The tanks of outdoor plants can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Regular applications of granular Bti-based larvicides are safe for plants, pets and wildlife. (Bti = Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis)

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
G. lingulata, G. musaica
Tags:
#showy flowers#houseplant#white flowers#red flowers#epiphytic#interiorscape#herbaceous#tropical herbaceous perennial#fantz#indoor#ebh#ebh-h#tropical feel#tropical#container plant#hsc#hsc-fl
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
G. lingulata, G. musaica
Tags:
#showy flowers#houseplant#white flowers#red flowers#epiphytic#interiorscape#herbaceous#tropical herbaceous perennial#fantz#indoor#ebh#ebh-h#tropical feel#tropical#container plant#hsc#hsc-fl
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Guzmania
    Family:
    Bromeliaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Florida to Tropical America
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 3 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Epiphyte
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Houseplant
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Funnel
    Flower Petals:
    Bracts
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are many, white or yellow, and small. The inflorescence can be up to 6 inches long with bracts of bright red, orange, pink, or green and are crowded at scape terminus. The inflorescence is a terminal, scapose, and is simple or bipinnate.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Up to 20-inch leaves are in a basal rosette, overlapping to form a funnel-like central vase or tank. Simple, stiff, strap-shaped, entire, and have a generally unmarked surface but can be variegated with parallel venation. Offsets may form between the base leaves. Color may change towards the center of the tank.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants