Aechmea fasciata

RHS Plant Profile
urn plant

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Aechmea fasciata?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
urn plant RHS 1993

Other common names

silver vase plant

Houseplants Conservatory Greenhouse

An evergreen perennial forming a rosette of strap-shaped, grey leaves with a dense central head of small purple flowers with showy bright pink bracts, sometimes followed by spherical woolly white fruit

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
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–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
Plant Range
Brazil

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors as an epiphyte or in moist, gritty, humus-rich soil, in frost-free location. Under glass grow as an epiphyte or in epiphytic bromeliad compost in bright filtered light

Propagation

Propagate by offsets

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free