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Vriesea Vriesea

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
VREE-zee-uh
Description

This genus of the bromeliad family has 100's of species that tend to be low maintenance epiphytes with showy leaves and knock-out blooms. They vary from small to very large with varying needs of light from shade to bright light. Most grow in a rosette form with a central vase for taking in water and nutrients.

They are widely used commercially in indoor spaces like offices and shopping malls for the colorful, long-lasting inflorescence and banded leaves. As an epiphyte, this plant requires nearly no water at its base, but its central vase must be kept full and the water replaced periodically.

They are generally easy to grow as a house plant and add a tropical feel to the home.

Quick ID

  • Leaves are entire and banded
  • Inflorescence is scapose, flattened and 2-ranked
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • ‘Fireworks’
    Deep green leaves with deep red flower
‘Fireworks’
Tags:
#showy flowers#houseplant#showy leaves#interiorscape#low maintenance#winter interest#fantz#tropical feel#container plant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • ‘Fireworks’
    Deep green leaves with deep red flower
‘Fireworks’
Tags:
#showy flowers#houseplant#showy leaves#interiorscape#low maintenance#winter interest#fantz#tropical feel#container plant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Vriesea
    Family:
    Bromeliaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Mexico to Tropical America
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Epiphyte
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Broad
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Description:
    Inflorescence is an erect, bracteate flower scape, terminal, up to 30 inches tall, with flowers in 2 rows between bracts. Flowers are red, yellow, or orange, small; bracts bright red, yellow, green, usually 2-ranked.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Variegated
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are in basal rosette, forming funnel-like central 'vase', simple, strap-shaped, entire, usually banded surfaces.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants