How to identify Aechmea (Aechmea)
Aechmea is distinguished by its striking foliage, typically purple or green, often exhibiting banded patterns. The leaves, adorned with tooth-like edges, add a rugged texture. Notably, the plant flaunts a scapose, pyramidal inflorescence that lasts for several months, offering a prolonged visual delight. Its unique cultivation requires no watering at the soil level; instead, its central 'vase'—a reservoir formed by the leaf bases—should be kept filled with water, refreshed periodically. Post-blooming, aechmea produces offsets at its base, signaling the cycle of life continuation.
Lifespan: Perennial
Leaf Type: Evergreen
Basal rosette of strap-shaped leaves forms a 'vase' structure at plant's center.
Leaves exhibit unique banded patterns with tooth-like edges, adding rugged texture.
Fruit is small, berry-like, and vibrant red when mature, contrasting with foliage.
Dense, vibrant inflorescences with long-lasting bracts in striking pink or red shades.
Blooms last several months, consisting of delicate, tubular flowers with rich red-purple hue.
Aechmea has leaves arranged in a basal rosette, creating a funnel-like 'vase' structure at its center. The leaves are strap-shaped and simple, often reaching lengths of up to 36 inches (90 cm) and around 3 inches (7.5 cm) wide. They display a unique banded pattern with dark and light shades of green or purple. The leaf margins typically feature teeth, adding a distinct texture. These characteristics make the leaves quite striking and identifiable.
Aechmea produces dense, pyramidal-shaped inflorescences. Each inflorescence boasts vibrant, long-lasting bracts that are typically a striking shade of pink or red. Nestled within these showy bracts are small, delicate flowers that exhibit a rich red-purple hue. The individual flowers are often tubular, measuring about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) in length. The blooming period can last several months, making these flowers a prominent feature of the plant. They are not known for their scent but are visually captivating and a favorite among bromeliad enthusiasts.
The fruit of aechmea is a small, berry-like structure adorned with a vibrant red hue when mature. Typically inconspicuous, the fruit may rarely develop and is noted for its petite size. The surface presents with a smooth texture, and the flesh inside harbors seeds for propagation. The vivid coloration of the fruit provides a stark contrast to the foliage, making it a distinctive feature of the plant. These berries are normally a few centimeters in diameter, roughly the size of a small marble or approximately 0.5 inches (1.27 cm).
Scan QR code to download
Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.
The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.
Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.
The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.
The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.
The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.
Identify a Plant Online
Scientific Classification of Aechmea
