General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 10a -1.1 °C (30 °F) to +1.7 °C (35 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Plant Height: 24 to 36 inches
Plant Spread: 24 to 48 inches
Leaves: Evergreen
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Flower Color: Red
White
Other: It can take decades to produce the bloom spike which can reach 6 feet in height.
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Underground structures: Taproot
Suitable Locations: Houseplant
Uses: Groundcover
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Butterflies
Other Beneficial Insects: small insects, animals, reptiles and amphibians.
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Drought tolerant
Salt tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Offsets
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
Endangered

Image
Common names
  • Bromeliad
  • Imperial Bromeliad
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Alcantarea imperialis
  • Synonym: Vriesea imperialis

Photo Gallery
Location: Botanical Garden Cologne (Germany)
Location: Botanical garden of Madeira
Date: 2023-04-11
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Date: 2017-10-09
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Date: 2017-10-09
Location: Botanical Garden Cologne (Germany)
Location: NYBG 
Date: June 14 22
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2016-03-20
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Date: 2017-10-09
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Date: 2017-10-09
Location: Sarasota, FL
Date: 2007-04-21
At Selby Gardens
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date: 2015-02-07
Location: New York, NY
Date: 2015-06
Bronx Botanical garden conservatory - bloom stalk detail.
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Date: 2019-12-12
Location: Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date: 2014-02-03
Location: Miami, FL
Date: 2014-12
Fairchild gardens, Alcantarea imperialis
Location: Miami, FL
Date: 2014-12
Fairchild gardens, Alcantarea imperialis

Date: 2012-02-26
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date: 2015-02-07
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date: 2015-02-07
Location: New York, NY
Date: 2015-06
Bronx Botanical garden conservatory
Location: New York, NY
Date: 2015-06
Bronx Botanical garden conservatory - single flower detail.
Location: Rainforest, Paraty, Brazil
Date: 2015-01-12
Growing in its natural habitat.
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2016-03-20
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2016-03-20
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2016-03-20
Location: Botanical Garden Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date: 2015-01-29
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