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Billbergia pyramidalis
In Singapore: Foolproof Plant, Vase Plant, Flaming Torch (Grown in Singapore)
Billbergia pyramidalis, the foolproof plant, is a clump-forming bromeliad that grows on the ground or on tree trunks and rocks. It is very tolerant and forgiving, and its central cup holds water and debris that feed the plant.
Billbergia pyramidalis, commonly known as the flaming torch and foolproof plant, is a species of bromeliad that is native to northern South America and parts of the Caribbean. It was first described by John Sims, and got its current name by John Lindley.
Requiring minimal care, the plant is used as groundcover in partial shade and in a protected position. It is drought and frost sensitive. Being epiphytic, these plants can also be grown in the branching of trees or on tree ferns. A slow-release fertiliser may be applied on the base of the plants in spring. Propagation is done by dividing off the immature parts of the plants in spring or autumn. This plant tolerates between USDA zones 10a to 12a and may not withstand temperatures below −1.1 °C.
The species is found in moist humus rich soils or in composted leaf mould on the ground in humid areas, and as well as on rocks under shady forest trees, in countries such as, Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, French Guiana, the Lesser Antilles and Cuba. It is reportedly naturalised in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and on the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
Billbergia amoena · Billbergia decora · Billbergia distachya · Billbergia euphemiae · Billbergia horrida · Billbergia morelii · Queen's Tears · Billbergia sanderiana · Billbergia vittata · Billbergia
[Contains information from Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Heritage Trees from data.gov.sg (National Parks Board), made available under the terms of the Singapore Open Data Licence version 1.0]
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Billbergia pyramidalis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
