Billbergia nutans

RHS Plant Profile

friendship plant

RHS 2003

Other common names

air pines, indoor oats, queen's tears

Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

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An evergreen perennial forming funnel-shaped rosettes of arching, linear, grey-green leaves, with slender pink-bracted stems bearing arching racemes of flowers with pink tube and reflexed, purple-edged, green tepals

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or East–facing or South–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): H2

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: Billbergia are evergreen, rosette-forming perennials with linear or strap-shaped leaves and panicles or racemes of tubular flowers, usually with colourful bracts
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Brazil to N Argentina

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors as an epiphyte or in humus-rich, sharply drained soil in frost-free location. Under glass grow as an epiphyte or in epiphytic bromeliad compost in bright indirect light. Keep the centre funnel filled with fresh water

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by removing offsets

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Sub-tropical
Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free