Nidularium innocentii

10 Mar

Nidularium innocentii (16/03/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Indirect bright sun

Flowering period: All year round

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 20cm

Eventual Spread: 40cm

Hardiness: 9b, 10a, 10b, 11, 12

Family: Bromeliaceae

Nidularium innocentii is an evergreen tropical epiphytic perennial with a clump forming habit. Its dark green leaves have purple stripes along their length, are lanceolate with spines along its margins, up to 30cm long and 5cm across. Its white tubular flowers appear from its ‘tank’ at the centre of the plant, within a red bract structure. Its roots produce stolons which aids its slow spread.

Nidularium innocentii Leaf (16/03/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Nidularium innocentii, commonly known as Nidularium Bromeliad, is native to Brazil. In its native habitat it grows as a tropical forest understory plant.

The etymological root of the binomial name Nidularium is derived from the Latin nidus meaning ‘nest’. Innocentii is named after the Marquis de Saint-Innocent.

The landscape architect may find Nidularium innocentii useful as an attractive foliage houseplant suitable for growing in pots. It may also be used as an effective ground cover plant in atrium type planting schemes.

Ecologically, Nidularium innocentii is of little value to UK wildlife.

Nidularium innocentii Tank (16/03/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Nidularium innocentii prefers moist, humus rich well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

When maintaining Nidularium innocentii as a houseplant its ‘tank’ should be watered regularly. Watering will need to be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 16ºc to 24ºc, although it will tolerate a temperature as low as 0ºc.

Landscape Architecture