Ahoy! In the year of 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue! His excursions brought about the first historical record of our Plant of the Week, the Bromeliad. Granted there is a plethora of species under the Bromeliad family umbrella, but we are just going to spotlight a few examples and some fun facts…
Bromeliads are beautiful, colorful, and bold plants. But they sure don’t just sit there and look pretty! Bromeliads are miniature ecosystems. They can support multitudes of insects and other creatures, like the amphibious frog, tadpoles, beetles, and spiders, among others. Their formed crown at the top of their structure collects water and serves as a watering hole, mating ground, and a place to rest for larvae. The Bromeliad can retain gallons of water, making their “ecosystem” very dependable and, in turn, making them very popular!
Bromeliads are also related to the pineapple. There is a strong resemblance in their structure. One species of Bromeliad, ananas cosmos, actually produces a pineapple on a stalk stemming from its’ center. They can be grown indoors or outdoors. It takes many months for pineapple to ripen, and they only produce one at a time. Another species of Bromeliad, Alcantarea imperialis, is a giant bromeliad can grow 4ft leaves and reach 8ft in height! This definitely is an outdoor plant!
Now from a landscape designer‘s point of view, the Bromeliad adds character to any landscape, due to their octopus-like leaves. Their leaves can either serve the purpose of a pop of color or add texture in a green, tropical botanical garden. They make stunning accents since their shape and size gives them strong presence.
Bromeliads also have a universal fitting to light preferences. Since there are many species, you are certain to find a Bromeliad to fit the needs of your custom landscape design. These beautiful plants make outstanding features in tropical landscapes, xeriscapes, as all as low maintenance landscape designs, just to name a few.
Find several types and uses for Bromeliads by visiting our portfolios by clicking on each direct link: Xeriscape Escapes, Rock Gardens, or Low Maintenance Landscapes.
At Construction Landscape of Vero Beach & Melbourne, FL , we pride ourselves on taking your visions, turning them into tangible landscape designs, then installing them for you without a hitch! If you are considering adding a Bromeliad to your Landscaping Wish List, let our landscape designer pair you with the right fits for your garden style. Call us today at (772)492-8382!
Pingback