215 Species in Genus Guzmania

Guzmania: A Bromeliad Beauty

My name is Ferb Vu, and I’ve always been drawn to the vibrant colors and unique forms of the plant world. Among my favorites is the genus Guzmania, a group of bromeliads that never fail to catch my eye. These tropical beauties, with their striking foliage and inflorescences, bring a touch of the exotic to any setting.

Origins and Habitat

Native to the rainforests of Central and South America, Guzmania plants are epiphytes, meaning they grow on other plants, typically trees, for support. They are not parasitic, however. Instead, they gather moisture and nutrients from the air and rain, making them fascinating examples of adaptation to their environment. Imagine them thriving in the humid, lush canopy, their colorful bracts a beacon against the deep green backdrop.

A Diverse Genus

The genus Guzmania boasts a remarkable diversity, with over 200 recognized species. Each has its own unique characteristics, but they all share that distinctive bromeliad form: a rosette of leaves forming a central “tank” that holds water. This tank is not just for hydration; it also serves as a microhabitat for various creatures, from insects to frogs.

1. Guzmania acorifolia (Griseb.) Mez
2. Guzmania acuminata L.B.Sm.
3. Guzmania acutispica E.Gross
4. Guzmania adscendens H.Luther & K.F.Norton
5. Guzmania aequatorialis L.B.Sm.
6. Guzmania albescens H.Luther & Determann
7. Guzmania alborosea H.Luther
8. Guzmania alcantareoides H.Luther
9. Guzmania alliodora E.Gross
10. Guzmania altsonii L.B.Sm.
11. Guzmania × amoena H.Luther
12. Guzmania amplectens L.B.Sm.
13. Guzmania anae Wisnev
14. Guzmania andreana (É.Morren) Mez
15. Guzmania andreettae Rauh
16. Guzmania angustifolia (Baker) Wittm.
17. Guzmania apiculata L.B.Sm.
18. Guzmania armeniaca H.Luther
19. Guzmania asplundii L.B.Sm.
20. Guzmania atrocastanea H.Luther
21. Guzmania attenuata L.B.Sm. & Read
22. Guzmania bakeri (Wittm.) Mez
23. Guzmania bergii H.Luther
24. Guzmania berteroniana (Schult. & Schult.f.) Mez
25. Guzmania besseae H.Luther
26. Guzmania betancurii H.Luther
27. Guzmania bicolor L.B.Sm.
28. Guzmania bipartita L.B.Sm.
29. Guzmania blassii Rauh
30. Guzmania brackeana Manzan.
31. Guzmania bracteosa (André) André ex Mez
32. Guzmania brasiliensis Ule
33. Guzmania breviscapa H.Luther
34. Guzmania brevispatha Mez
35. Guzmania butcheri Rauh
36. Guzmania cabrerae Gilmartin
37. Guzmania calamifolia André ex Mez
38. Guzmania calothyrsus Mez
39. Guzmania candelabrum (André) André ex Mez
40. Guzmania caricifolia (André) L.B.Sm.
41. Guzmania cerrohoyaensis H.Luther
42. Guzmania cinnabarina H.Luther & K.F.Norton
43. Guzmania circinnata Rauh
44. Guzmania claviformis H.Luther
45. Guzmania compacta Mez
46. Guzmania condensata Mez & Wercklé
47. Guzmania condorensis H.Luther
48. Guzmania confinis L.B.Sm.
49. Guzmania confusa L.B.Sm.
50. Guzmania conglomerata H.Luther
51. Guzmania conifera (André) André ex Mez
52. Guzmania coriostachya (Griseb.) Mez
53. Guzmania corniculata H.Luther
54. Guzmania cuatrecasasii L.B.Sm.
55. Guzmania cundinamarcae Gouda
56. Guzmania cuzcoensis L.B.Sm.
57. Guzmania cylindrica L.B.Sm.
58. Guzmania dalstroemii H.Luther
59. Guzmania danielii L.B.Sm.
60. Guzmania darienensis H.Luther
61. Guzmania delicatula L.B.Sm.
62. Guzmania densiflora Mez
63. Guzmania densispica Gouda & Manzan.
64. Guzmania desautelsii Read & L.B.Sm.
65. Guzmania devansayana É.Morren
66. Guzmania diazii H.Luther
67. Guzmania diffusa L.B.Sm.
68. Guzmania dissitiflora (André) L.B.Sm.
69. Guzmania donnellsmithii Mez ex Donn.Sm.
70. Guzmania dudleyi L.B.Sm.
71. Guzmania dussii Mez
72. Guzmania ecuadorensis Gilmartin
73. Guzmania eduardi André ex Mez
74. Guzmania ekmanii (Harms) Harms ex Mez
75. Guzmania elvallensis H.Luther
76. Guzmania erythrolepis Brongn. ex Planch.
77. Guzmania farciminiformis H.Luther
78. Guzmania fawcettii Mez
79. Guzmania ferruginea H.Luther
80. Guzmania filicaulis Gouda
81. Guzmania filiorum L.B.Sm.
82. Guzmania flagellata S.Pierce & J.R.Grant
83. Guzmania foetida Rauh
84. Guzmania formosa H.Luther
85. Guzmania fosteriana L.B.Sm.
86. Guzmania fuerstenbergiana (Kirchhoff & Wittm.) Wittm.
87. Guzmania fuquae H.Luther & Determann
88. Guzmania garciaensis Rauh
89. Guzmania glaucophylla Rauh
90. Guzmania globosa L.B.Sm.
91. Guzmania glomerata Mez & Wercklé
92. Guzmania gloriosa (André) André ex Mez
93. Guzmania goudotiana Mez
94. Guzmania gracilior (André) Mez
95. Guzmania gracilis H.Luther
96. Guzmania graminifolia (André ex Baker) L.B.Sm.
97. Guzmania harlingii H.Luther
98. Guzmania hedychioides L.B.Sm.
99. Guzmania henniae H.Luther
100. Guzmania herrerae H.Luther & W.J.Kress
101. Guzmania hirtzii H.Luther
102. Guzmania hitchcockiana L.B.Sm.
103. Guzmania hollinensis H.Luther
104. Guzmania inexpectata H.Luther
105. Guzmania inkaterrae Gouda & C.Soto
106. Guzmania izkoi Manzan. & W.Till
107. Guzmania jaramilloi H.Luther
108. Guzmania kalbreyeri (Baker) L.B.Sm.
109. Guzmania kareniae H.Luther & K.F.Norton
110. Guzmania kentii H.Luther
111. Guzmania killipiana L.B.Sm.
112. Guzmania kraenzliniana Wittm.
113. Guzmania laeta H.Luther
114. Guzmania lehmanniana (Wittm.) Mez
115. Guzmania lemeana Manzan.
116. Guzmania leonard-kentiana H.Luther & K.F.Norton
117. Guzmania lepidota (André) André ex Mez
118. Guzmania lindenii (André) Mez
119. Guzmania lingulata (L.) Mez Plant FAQs: Guzmania Lingulata
120. Guzmania × litaensis H.Luther
121. Guzmania loeflingiana Vivas & B.Holst
122. Guzmania longibracteata Betancur & N.R.Salinas
123. Guzmania longipetala (Baker) Mez
124. Guzmania loraxiana J.R.Grant
125. Guzmania lychnis L.B.Sm.
126. Guzmania macropoda L.B.Sm.
127. Guzmania madisonii H.Luther
128. Guzmania manzanaresiorum H.Luther
129. Guzmania marantoidea (Rusby) H.Luther
130. Guzmania megastachya (Baker) Mez
131. Guzmania melinonis Regel
132. Guzmania membranacea L.B.Sm. & Steyerm.
133. Guzmania mitis L.B.Sm.
134. Guzmania monostachia (L.) Rusby ex Mez
135. Guzmania morreniana (É.Morren) Mez
136. Guzmania mosquerae (Wittm.) Mez
137. Guzmania mucronata (Griseb.) Mez
138. Guzmania multiflora (André) André ex Mez
139. Guzmania musaica (Linden & André) Mez
140. Guzmania nangaritzae H.Luther & K.F.Norton
141. Guzmania nicaraguensis Mez & C.F.Baker
142. Guzmania nidularioides L.B.Sm. & Read
143. Guzmania nubicola L.B.Sm.
144. Guzmania nubigena L.B.Sm.
145. Guzmania oligantha Lozano
146. Guzmania osyana (É.Morren) Mez
147. Guzmania pallida L.B.Sm.
148. Guzmania palustris (Wittm.) Mez
149. Guzmania panamensis Cáceres Gonz.
150. Guzmania paniculata Mez
151. Guzmania pattersoniae Manzan.
152. Guzmania patula Mez & Wercklé
153. Guzmania pearcei (Baker) L.B.Sm.
154. Guzmania pennellii L.B.Sm.
155. Guzmania peter-bakii Manzan., Gouda & W.Till
156. Guzmania plicatifolia L.B.Sm.
157. Guzmania plumieri (Griseb.) Mez
158. Guzmania polycephala Mez & Wercklé
159. Guzmania poortmanii (André) André ex Mez
160. Guzmania pseudodissitiflora H.Luther & K.F.Norton
161. Guzmania pseudospectabilis H.Luther
162. Guzmania pungens L.B.Sm.
163. Guzmania puyoensis Rauh
164. Guzmania radiata L.B.Sm.
165. Guzmania rauhiana H.Luther
166. Guzmania regalis H.Luther
167. Guzmania remediosensis E.Gross
168. Guzmania remyi L.B.Sm.
169. Guzmania retusa L.B.Sm.
170. Guzmania rhonhofiana Harms
171. Guzmania roezlii (É.Morren) Mez
172. Guzmania roseiflora Rauh
173. Guzmania rubrolutea Rauh
174. Guzmania rugosa L.B.Sm. & Read
175. Guzmania sanguinea (André) André ex Mez
176. Guzmania scandens H.Luther & W.J.Kress
177. Guzmania scherzeriana Mez
178. Guzmania septata L.B.Sm.
179. Guzmania sibundoyorum L.B.Sm.
180. Guzmania sieffiana H.Luther
181. Guzmania skotakii H.Luther
182. Guzmania sphaeroidea (André) André ex Mez
183. Guzmania sprucei (André) L.B.Sm.
184. Guzmania squarrosa (Mez & Sodiro) L.B.Sm. & Pittendr.
185. Guzmania stenostachya L.B.Sm.
186. Guzmania steyermarkii L.B.Sm.
187. Guzmania straminea (K.Koch) Mez
188. Guzmania striata L.B.Sm.
189. Guzmania stricta L.B.Sm.
190. Guzmania strobilantha (Ruiz & Pav.) Mez
191. Guzmania subcorymbosa L.B.Sm.
192. Guzmania tarapotina Ule
193. Guzmania tenuifolia (H.Luther) Betancur & N.R.Salinas
194. Guzmania terrestris L.B.Sm. & Steyerm.
195. Guzmania testudinis L.B.Sm. & Read
196. Guzmania teucamae H.Luther & K.F.Norton
197. Guzmania teuscheri L.B.Sm.
198. Guzmania triangularis L.B.Sm.
199. Guzmania undulatobracteata (Rauh) Rauh
200. Guzmania vanvolxemii (André) André ex Mez
201. Guzmania variegata L.B.Sm.
202. Guzmania ventricosa (Griseb.) Mez
203. Guzmania verecunda L.B.Sm.
204. Guzmania victoriae Rauh
205. Guzmania vinacea H.Luther & K.F.Norton
206. Guzmania virescens (Hook.) Mez
207. Guzmania viridiflora E.Gross
208. Guzmania vittata (Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Mez
209. Guzmania vonbismarckii Gouda
210. Guzmania weberbaueri Mez
211. Guzmania wittmackii (André) André ex Mez
212. Guzmania xanthobractea Gilmartin
213. Guzmania xipholepis L.B.Sm.
214. Guzmania zahnii (Hook.f.) Mez
215. Guzmania zakii H.Luther

Care and Cultivation

While Guzmania plants may seem exotic, they are surprisingly easy to care for, making them popular houseplants. They thrive in bright, indirect light and prefer a humid environment. Regular misting and keeping the central tank filled with water will help mimic their natural rainforest habitat.

One thing to remember is that Guzmania plants are monocarpic, meaning they flower only once. After blooming, the mother plant will gradually decline, but it will often produce offsets, or “pups,” that can be separated and grown into new plants. This cycle of life and renewal is another aspect that I find fascinating about these plants.

Beyond the Aesthetics

Beyond their ornamental value, Guzmania plants also play a role in air purification, helping to remove harmful pollutants from indoor environments. This makes them not only beautiful but also beneficial additions to our homes and workspaces.

In their native habitats, Guzmania plants are also important components of the ecosystem, providing food and shelter for various animals. Their vibrant colors and unique forms add to the biodiversity and beauty of the rainforest.

A Source of Inspiration

For me, Guzmania plants represent resilience, adaptability, and the beauty of the natural world. Their vibrant colors and unique forms never cease to inspire me. Whether I’m admiring a single plant on my windowsill or exploring a botanical garden filled with these tropical wonders, I always find myself drawn to their captivating presence.

I encourage everyone to take a moment to appreciate the beauty and diversity of Guzmania plants. Whether you’re a seasoned plant enthusiast or just starting your journey into the world of botany, these fascinating bromeliads are sure to leave a lasting impression.