Odorata Bromeliad
Location
Bromeliad Island
- Common Name: Odorata (another common name: Fragrant Alcantarea)
- Scientific Name: Alcantarea ‘Odorata’
- Family Name: Bromeliaceae
- Origin: Brazil
- Height: 3’ – 4’
- Width: 4’ – 6’
- Growth: slow
- Zone: 10A – 11
- Light Needs: Full sun – Partial shade
- Salt Tolerance: resistant to salt spray
- Soil/PH/Texture: will grow in most soils or without soil, mildly acidic – mildly alkaline (pH 6.1 – 7.8)
- Soil Moisture: water periodically inside the rosette, but do not over water, never leave soil soggy
- Drought Tolerance: high and humidity tolerant
- Pests/Diseases: Fairly pest and disease resistant besides the occasional mealybug or scale
- Growing Conditions: easy to grow and low maintenance
- Characteristics: grown for its foliage, when young the spineless leaves are pale green with silver banding, as the slender leaves grow mature, they change to a silver – bluish color. The showy and fragrant flowers are pale – bright yellow, under 1”, and branch out on a 5’ – 8’ spike in late spring – mid summer. It can take anywhere from 3 – 5 years to flower. Because this plant is monocarpic it will die after its bloom fades, but it reproduces pups at the base of it to replace it.
- Propagation: by dividing rhizomes, bulbs, pups, or offsets.
- Wildlife: attractive to birds, bees, and butterflies
- Facts: unknown
- Designer Considerations: can be used as an accent plant, small specimen, border plant, hanging from bark or wood on a patio wall or as a container plant on a patio or deck.
