Aechmea aquilega

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eagle urn plant

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Conservatory Greenhouse

A frost-tender, evergreen epiphyte forming a rosette of leathery, erect to arching, strap-shaped leaves to 80cm high and wide with sharp spines along the leaf margins. Spikes up to 1m tall of golden-yellow flowers with pink bracts are produced in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1B

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Bromeliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Tufted
Genus
Aechmea are evergreen perennials forming funnel-shaped rosettes of strap-shaped leaves, with a terminal spike of tubular flowers often with colourful triangular bracts, followed by fleshy fruits
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Where temperatures do not drop below 10°C it can be grown outdoors as an epiphyte, or in moist, gritty, humus-rich soil. Elsewhere it can be grown as a house or conservatorty plant in pots of epiphytic bromeliad compost, positioned in bright, filtered light. See bromeliad cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by removal of offsets

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
  • Houseplants
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free