Neoregelia carolinae 'Skotak's Orange Crush' (v)

RHS Plant Profile

blushing bromeliad 'Freddie'

Synonyms

Neoregelia carolinae 'Freddie'

Houseplants

A bromeliad to 40cm across, forming an open rosette composed of 12-20 strap-shaped leaves. Each leaf bears longitudinal stripes of green and cream, and the centre of the plant is suffused bright red. Small, tubular pale violet flowers are produced within the rosette cup in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

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

Growing Conditions

Loam

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

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–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: Neoregelia are evergreen, rosette-forming perennials with strap-shaped leaves, the inner ones often brightly coloured; small tubular flowers are borne in dense clusters with showy bracts, in the centre of the rosette in summer
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in a potting mix made by combining one part peat-free compost with one part orchid compost, in bright filtered light. During growth water freely with soft water, keeping the rosette cups full, and apply a low-nitrogen liquid fertiliser monthly. See Bromeliad cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by separating offsets in spring or summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Low Maintenance
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free