Malva Bromeliad
Location
Bromeliad Island
- Common Name: Malva (other common names: Aechmea Bromeliad, Living Vase Bromeliad, Urn Plant ‘Malva’)
- Scientific Name: Aechmea mulfordii ‘Malva’
- Family Name: Bromeliaceae
- Origin: Brazil
- Height: 2’ – 3’
- Width: 1’ – 2’
- Growth: slow (2 – 3′ in one season)
- Zone: 9A – 11
- Light Needs: Sun – Partial shade (prefers some shade)
- Salt Tolerance: resistant to salt spray and wind
- Soil/PH/Texture: not picky about its soil and drains extremely well, mildly acidic – mildly alkaline (pH 6.1 – 7.8)
- Soil Moisture: Mesic – water regularly in its vase/rosette, do not or water or leave in soggy soil ever.
- Drought Tolerance: low, but humidity and heat tolerant
- Pests/Diseases: resistant to most pests and diseases besides occasionally mealybugs
- Growing Conditions: easy to grow and low maintenance
- Characteristics: Foliage is Green – Burgundy/Maroon – Dark Black (depending on sunlight), has spines, Blooms are clusters of starburst blossoms on a showy spike, orange, red, or bright yellow, under 1”, and last for months.
- Propagation: by division of rhizomes, bulbs, offsets, or pups (plant is sterile and does not set seed or come true from seed)
- Wildlife: flowers attract bees and butterflies
- Facts: hybridized by Anderson in 1995
- Designer Considerations: use as groundcover in mass plantings or in garden beds, as a border, accent plant, on a piece of wood or bark hung on a patio wall, planted in a tree, or as a container plant for your deck or patio.
