Aechmea 'Del Mar'

RHS Plant Profile

aechmea 'Del Mar'

RHS

Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

'Del Mar' is an evergreen, perennial bromeliad forming a rosette ofarching, strap-shaped,bright greenleaves edged with small, sharp spines. Small blue-purple and greenish-white flowers,surrounded by showy purple-blue bracts, are carried in spikes on bright pinkish-red stems. Flower spikes may appearin any season and last for up to a year

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or East–facing or North–facing or West–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: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow epiphytically, or in epiphytic bromeliad compost, in bright, filtered light in a heated greenhouse, or as a houseplant. See bromeliad cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by offsets

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free