Bromeliad, Queen’s Tears
Scientific Name: Bilbergia nutans
History/general species info: Found in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and in rain forests in Argentina and Uruguay. Also known as a friendship plant because they are easily propagated for sharing. Gets its name from the droplets of clear, sticky nectar which are secreted from the blooms.
Characteristics: A rainbow-colored tropical plant that produces upright clumps of trumpet-shaped, grayish-green leaves. Arching stems bear pink bracts and lime-green petals rimmed in royal blue. Each long-lasting flower displays a long yellow stamen.
Native: No
Flower: multi-colored
Planting / Care: Relatively drought tolerant and easy to care for. Water frequently during the summer, providing just enough to keep the soil slightly moist but never drenched. Also fill upward-facing cups with water. Water sparingly throughout winter with just enough water to keep the soil from becoming bone dry. Mist the foliage lightly every few days. Usually flower in spring, but stubborn plants can be prompted to bloom by adding a healthy pinch of Epsom salts to the water one time in early spring. During the summer, provide partial shade; other times of the year, bright but indirect light. Full summer sunlight can destroy the flowers.
Size and Spacing: Height: 10’ Spread: 20’
Light requirement: bright, indirect sunlight
Wildlife: unknown
Links:
Rainforest Reports
https://rainforestreports.weebly.com/queens-tears.html
