252 Species in Genus Aechmea

July 29 – Aechmea
"Aechmea, the urn plant, defines July 29."
Aechmea symbolizes boldness and beauty. You have a striking presence and a confident spirit. Like this tropical plant, you stand out in any crowd.

Table of Contents

Aechmea: My Fascination with these Spiky Beauties

I’ve always been drawn to the unusual, the vibrant, the slightly dangerous. So naturally, when I first encountered an Aechmea bromeliad, I was hooked. With their spiky foliage, vivid blooms, and intriguing growth habits, they seemed like plants from another planet. And in a way, they are – hailing from the lush, tropical ecosystems of the Americas, these plants have adapted to thrive in conditions most houseplants wouldn’t tolerate.

Now, I, Ferb Vu, am no botanist. But I’ve spent countless hours poring over plant catalogs, visiting botanical gardens, and yes, even braving the wilds of online forums to learn everything I can about these fascinating plants. And the more I learn, the more fascinated I become.

What Is Bromeliad Aechmea?

Aechmea belong to the Bromeliaceae family, which means they’re related to pineapples. But unlike their fruit-bearing cousin, Aechmeas are prized for their striking foliage and inflorescences. The leaves, often arranged in a rosette, come in a dazzling array of colors and patterns – from deep greens and reds to silvery grays and even stripes and spots. And then there are the flowers. Emerging from the center of the rosette, they boast vibrant hues and unusual shapes, often resembling a spiky mace or a colorful cone.

But what truly sets Aechmea apart is their adaptability. Many are epiphytes, meaning they grow on other plants, typically trees, for support. This allows them to reach sunlight in the dense rainforest canopy. They’ve also evolved to collect water and nutrients in their central “tank” formed by the overlapping leaves. This unique adaptation makes them surprisingly drought-tolerant, a trait I appreciate as someone who occasionally forgets to water my plants.

A Diverse Genus

The genus Aechmea is incredibly diverse, with over 250 recognized species. Here are:

Aechmea abbreviata L.B.Sm.
Aechmea aculeatosepala (Rauh & Barthlott) Leme
Aechmea aenigmatica López-Ferr., Espejo, Ceja & A.Mend.
Aechmea aguadocensis Leme & L.Kollmann
Aechmea aiuruocensis Leme
Aechmea alba Mez
Aechmea alegrensis W.Weber
Aechmea alopecurus Mez
Aechmea amicorum B.R.Silva & H.Luther
Aechmea ampla L.B.Sm.
Aechmea andaquiensis Betancur & Aguirre-Santoro
Aechmea andersonii H.Luther & Leme
Aechmea angustifolia Poepp. & Endl.
Aechmea anomala L.B.Sm.
Aechmea apocalyptica Reitz
Aechmea aquilega (Salisb.) Griseb.
Aechmea araneosa L.B.Sm.
Aechmea arenaria (Ule) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea aripoensis (N.E.Br.) Pittendr.
Aechmea atrovittata Leme & J.A.Siqueira
Aechmea avaldoana Leme & W.Till
Aechmea azurea L.B.Sm.
Aechmea bahiana L.B.Sm.
Aechmea bambusoides L.B.Sm. & Reitz
Aechmea baudoensis Aguirre-Santoro & Betancur
Aechmea bauxilumii Áng.Fernández
Aechmea biflora (L.B.Sm.) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea blanchetiana (Baker) L.B.Sm.
Aechmea blumenavii Reitz
Aechmea bocainensis E.Pereira & Leme
Aechmea brachystachys (Harms) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea bracteata (Sw.) Griseb.
Aechmea brassicoides Baker
Aechmea brevicollis L.B.Sm.
Aechmea bromeliifolia (Rudge) Baker ex Benth. & Hook.f.
Aechmea bruggeri Leme
Aechmea caesia É.Morren ex Baker
Aechmea callichroma Read & Baensch
Aechmea calyculata (É.Morren) Baker
Aechmea campanulata L.B.Sm.
Aechmea candida É.Morren ex Baker
Aechmea capixabae L.B.Sm.
Aechmea cardenasii Aguirre-Santoro & Betancur
Aechmea cariocae L.B.Sm.
Aechmea carvalhoi E.Pereira & Leme
Aechmea castanea L.B.Sm.
Aechmea castelnavii Baker
Aechmea catendensis J.A.Siqueira & Leme
Aechmea cathcartii C.F.Reed & Read
Aechmea caudata Lindm.
Aechmea cephaloides J.A.Siqueira & Leme
Aechmea chantinii (Carrière) Baker
Aechmea coelestis (K.Koch) Jacob-Makoy
Aechmea colombiana (L.B.Sm.) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea comata (Beer) Baker
Aechmea confertiflora Aguirre-Santoro & Betancur
Aechmea confusa H.Luther
Aechmea conifera L.B.Sm.
Aechmea contracta (Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Baker
Aechmea correia-araujoi E.Pereira & Moutinho
Aechmea corymbosa (Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Mez
Aechmea costantinii (Mez) L.B.Sm.
Aechmea cucullata H.Luther
Aechmea cylindrata Lindm.
Aechmea cymosopaniculata Baker
Aechmea dactylina Baker
Aechmea dealbata É.Morren ex Baker
Aechmea decurva Proctor
Aechmea dichlamydea Baker
Aechmea digitata L.B.Sm. & Read
Aechmea discordiae Leme
Aechmea disjuncta (L.B.Sm.) Leme & J.A.Siqueira
Aechmea distichantha Lem.
Aechmea downsiana Pittendr.
Aechmea echinata (Leme) Leme
Aechmea egleriana L.B.Sm.
Aechmea emmerichiae Leme
Aechmea entringeri Leme
Aechmea esseri E.Gross & Rauh
Aechmea eurycorymbus Harms
Aechmea farinosa (Regel) L.B.Sm.
Aechmea fasciata (Lindl.) Baker
Aechmea fendleri André ex Mez
Aechmea fernandae (É.Morren) Baker
Aechmea ferruginea L.B.Sm.
Aechmea filicaulis (Griseb.) Mez
Aechmea flavorosea E.Pereira
Aechmea flemingii H.Luther
Aechmea floribunda Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.
Aechmea fosteriana L.B.Sm.
Aechmea frassyi Leme & J.A.Siqueira
Aechmea fraudulosa Mez
Aechmea fuerstenbergii É.Morren & Wittm.
Aechmea fulgens Brongn.
Aechmea gamosepala Wittm.
Aechmea geminiflora (Harms) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea gentryi H.Luther & K.F.Norton
Aechmea gigantea (É.Morren) Baker
Aechmea glandulosa Leme
Aechmea gracilis Lindm.
Aechmea grazielae Martinelli & Leme
Aechmea guainumbiorum J.A.Siqueira & Leme
Aechmea guaratingensis Leme & L.Kollmann
Aechmea gurkeniana E.Pereira & Moutinho
Aechmea haltonii H.Luther
Aechmea hellae W.Weber
Aechmea heterosepala Leme
Aechmea hoppii (Harms) L.B.Sm.
Aechmea huebneri Harms
Aechmea iguana Wittm.
Aechmea itapoana W.Till & Morowetz
Aechmea joannis Strehl
Aechmea jungurudoensis H.Luther & K.F.Norton
Aechmea kautskyana E.Pereira & L.B.Sm.
Aechmea kentii (H.Luther) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea kertesziae Reitz
Aechmea kleinii Reitz
Aechmea koesteri Manzan.
Aechmea lactifera Leme & J.A.Siqueira
Aechmea lamarchei Mez
Aechmea lanata (L.B.Sm.) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea lanjouwii (L.B.Sm.) L.B.Sm.
Aechmea lasseri L.B.Sm.
Aechmea latifolia (Willd. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Klotzsch ex Mez
Aechmea leonard-kentiana H.Luther & Leme
Aechmea leppardii Philcox
Aechmea leptantha (Harms) Leme & J.A.Siqueira
Aechmea leucolepis L.B.Sm.
Aechmea lilacinantha Leme
Aechmea longicuspis Baker
Aechmea longifolia (Rudge) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea longipedunculata Betancur & Aguirre-Santoro
Aechmea longiramosa Betancur & Aguirre-Santoro
Aechmea lueddemanniana (K.Koch) Mez
Aechmea lugoi (Gilmartin & H.Luther) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea lymanii W.Weber
Aechmea maasii Gouda & W.Till
Aechmea macrochlamys L.B.Sm.
Aechmea maculata L.B.Sm.
Aechmea magdalenae (André) André ex Baker
Aechmea manzanaresiana H.Luther
Aechmea marauensis Leme
Aechmea marginalis Leme & J.A.Siqueira
Aechmea mariae-reginae H.Wendl.
Aechmea matudae L.B.Sm.
Aechmea mcvaughii L.B.Sm.
Aechmea melinonii Hook.
Aechmea mertensii (G.Mey.) Schult. & Schult.f.
Aechmea mexicana Baker
Aechmea milsteiniana L.B.Sm. & Read
Aechmea miniata T.Moore
Aechmea mira Leme & H.Luther
Aechmea mollis L.B.Sm.
Aechmea moonenii Gouda
Aechmea moorei H.Luther
Aechmea mulfordii L.B.Sm.
Aechmea murcae (L.B.Sm.) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea muricata (Arruda) L.B.Sm.
Aechmea mutica L.B.Sm.
Aechmea nallyi L.B.Sm.
Aechmea napoensis L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea nidularioides L.B.Sm.
Aechmea nivea L.B.Sm.
Aechmea novoae Flores-Arg., López-Ferr. & Espejo
Aechmea nudicaulis (L.) Griseb.
Aechmea organensis Wawra
Aechmea orlandiana L.B.Sm.
Aechmea ornata (Gaudich. ex Beer) Baker
Aechmea pabstii E.Pereira & Moutinho
Aechmea pallida L.B.Sm.
Aechmea paniculata Ruiz & Pav.
Aechmea paniculigera (Sw.) Griseb.
Aechmea paradoxa (Leme) Leme
Aechmea paratiensis Leme & Fraga
Aechmea patriciae H.Luther
Aechmea pectinata Baker
Aechmea pedicellata Leme & H.Luther
Aechmea penduliflora André
Aechmea perforata L.B.Sm.
Aechmea phanerophlebia Baker
Aechmea pimenti-velosoi Reitz
Aechmea pineliana (Brongn. ex Planch.) Baker
Aechmea pittieri Mez
Aechmea podantha L.B.Sm.
Aechmea poitaei (Baker) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea politii L.B.Sm.
Aechmea polyantha E.Pereira & Reitz
Aechmea prancei L.B.Sm.
Aechmea prava E.Pereira
Aechmea pseudonudicaulis Leme
Aechmea pubescens Baker
Aechmea purpureorosea (Hook.) Wawra
Aechmea pyramidalis Benth.
Aechmea racinae L.B.Sm.
Aechmea ramosa Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.
Aechmea ramusculosa Leme
Aechmea reclinata Sastre & Brithmer
Aechmea recurvata (Klotzsch) L.B.Sm.
Aechmea recurvipetala Leme & L.Kollmann
Aechmea retusa L.B.Sm.
Aechmea roberto-anselmoi E.Pereira & Leme
Aechmea roberto-seidelii E.Pereira
Aechmea rodriguesiana (L.B.Sm.) L.B.Sm.
Aechmea roeseliae H.Luther
Aechmea romeroi L.B.Sm.
Aechmea rubens (L.B.Sm.) L.B.Sm.
Aechmea rubiginosa Mez
Aechmea rubroaristata Leme & Fraga
Aechmea rubrolilacina Leme
Aechmea seideliana W.Weber
Aechmea seidelii (Leme) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea sergipana E.Pereira & Leme
Aechmea serragrandensis Leme & J.A.Siqueira
Aechmea serrata (L.) Mez
Aechmea servitensis André
Aechmea setigera Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.
Aechmea skotakii H.Luther ex Manzan.
Aechmea smithiorum Mez
Aechmea spectabilis (Linden ex Galeotti) Brongn. ex Houllet
Aechmea sphaerocephala (Gaudich. ex Beer) Baker
Aechmea squarrosa Baker
Aechmea stelligera L.B.Sm.
Aechmea stenosepala L.B.Sm.
Aechmea streptocalycoides Philcox
Aechmea strobilacea L.B.Sm.
Aechmea strobilina (Beurl.) L.B.Sm. & Read
Aechmea sucreana Martinelli & C.M.Vieira
Aechmea sumidourensis Leme
Aechmea tayoensis Gilmartin
Aechmea tessmannii Harms
Aechmea tillandsioides (Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Baker
Aechmea timida Leme
Aechmea tocantina Baker
Aechmea tomentosa Mez
Aechmea triangularis L.B.Sm.
Aechmea triticina Mez
Aechmea tuitensis Magaña & E.J.Lott
Aechmea vallerandii (Carrière) Erhardt, Götz & Seybold
Aechmea vanhoutteana (Van Houtte) Mez
Aechmea vasquezii H.Luther
Aechmea victoriana L.B.Sm.
Aechmea viridipetala A.F.Costa & Amorim
Aechmea warasii E.Pereira
Aechmea weberi (E.Pereira & Leme) Leme
Aechmea weilbachii Didr.
Aechmea werdermannii Harms
Aechmea williamsii (L.B.Sm.) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer
Aechmea winkleri Reitz
Aechmea wittmackiana (Regel) Mez
Aechmea woronowii Harms
Aechmea xinguana A.K.Koch, Ilk.-Borg. & Forzza
Aechmea zebrina L.B.Sm.

How to Care for a Bromeliad Aechmea?

Caring for Bromeliad Aechmea is straightforward. Here are some essential tips based on my experience:

Light Requirements: These plants prefer bright, indirect light. I’ve noticed that placing them near a window with filtered sunlight helps them thrive. Too much direct sunlight can scorch their leaves, while too little light may hinder flowering.
Watering: I usually fill the central cup of the plant with water, allowing it to absorb moisture as needed. Ensure that the potting mix is well-draining to prevent root rot. During the growing season, I water about once a week, reducing it in the winter.
Humidity: Bromeliad Aechmea loves humidity. I often mist my plants or place them on a pebble tray filled with water to maintain the humidity levels. This mimics their natural tropical environment.
Temperature: They thrive in temperatures between 65°F and 80°F. I avoid exposing them to temperatures below 50°F, as they are sensitive to cold.

How to Propagate Bromeliad Aechmea?

Propagating Bromeliad Aechmea is an exciting process. I wait until the mother plant produces pups, small offsets that grow at its base. Once the pups are at least a third of the size of the mother plant, I carefully separate them and replant them in their pots. It’s a satisfying way to expand my collection!

What Flower Can I Combine with Bromeliad Aechmea?

Choosing companion plants for Bromeliad Aechmea can enhance the overall aesthetic of your space. I like to pair them with low-light tolerant plants like ferns or shade-loving orchids. They provide a lush backdrop that complements the bold colors of the Aechmea. Additionally, succulents or air plants work well, adding diversity without competing for light or water.

Can You Grow Bromeliad Aechmea Indoors?

Absolutely! I’ve had great success growing Bromeliad Aechmea indoors. They adapt well to indoor conditions as long as you provide adequate light and humidity. I recommend placing them in bright areas, such as near east or west-facing windows, and ensuring they’re in a well-draining potting mix.

Is Bromeliad Aechmea Toxic?

One of the great things about Bromeliad Aechmea is that they are non-toxic to pets and humans. I feel comfortable having them around my pets, knowing they won’t cause any harm if they decide to take a nibble.

Benefits of Having Bromeliad Aechmea

Having Bromeliad Aechmea in my home brings several benefits. They not only purify the air but also add a splash of color and a tropical vibe to any space. Their unique structure can serve as a conversation starter, and they require relatively low maintenance compared to other flowering plants.

Common Problems with Bromeliad Aechmea

Despite their hardiness, Bromeliad Aechmea can face some common issues. Here are a few I’ve encountered:

Pests: Occasionally, I’ve spotted mealybugs or scale insects on my plants. A gentle wash with soap and water usually does the trick.
Root Rot: Overwatering can lead to root rot. I’ve learned to keep an eye on the drainage and only water when necessary.
Leaf Browning: If the leaf tips start to brown, it might be a sign of underwatering or low humidity. I remedy this by increasing humidity or adjusting my watering schedule.

How Does Bromeliad Aechmea Compare with Other Bromeliads?

While many bromeliads share similar care needs, Aechmea stands out for its vibrant flowers and unique leaf structures. Compared to other popular varieties like Guzmania or Neoregalia, Aechmea tends to have a sturdier appearance. Guzmania often features tubular flowers and prefers slightly more shade, while Neoregalia exhibits striking foliage patterns. Each type has its unique charm, but Aechmea has become one of my favorites for its ease of care and show-stopping blooms.

For me, Aechmea are more than just houseplants. They’re a source of constant wonder, a reminder of the incredible diversity and resilience of the natural world. And with their bold beauty and easy-going nature, they’re the perfect companions for a plant enthusiast like myself.