Vriesea philippocoburgii, Bare-Rooted With 1400 mm Spike and Mature Pup

Family: Bromeliaceae (the bromeliad family)
Genus: Vriesea (includes silver vase [urn plant])

Botanical/Binomial Name: Vriesea philippocoburgii
Meaning of Name:
Vriesea, after Willem Hendrik de Vriese, Dutch botanist and physician (1806–1862); and
philippocoburgii, possibly after Prince Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1844-1921)

Common Names: Vriesea philippocoburgii, Vriesea philippo-coburgi, Philippo-Coburg’s Vriesea

Botanical Characteristics: Herbaceous | Perennial | Epiphytic| Frost tender to tolerant
Propagation: Division of ‘pups’

Item Description:
PICK-UP ONLY
This is a mature plant with a 1400 mm spike and one large pup, with an overall spread of about 850 mm. The first two photos are of the actual plant for purchase.

This bromeliad would be supplied bare-rooted, but the 9 L Air-Pot ® it is currently sitting in (not potted) can be supplied as an additional extra. (The 20 L Air-Pot ® would make an even better long-term container).

Dimensions of the 9 L Air-Pot ® in photo:
Inside diameter: 233 mm
Outside diameter: 269 mm
Height: 275 mm

The top two rows of cones are closed and act as a water reservoir.

Plant Description:
Vriesea philippocoburgii is somewhat cold-hardy. It likes part-shade to full sun. This particular plant is growing in part-shade, hence the darker green leaves. The leaves become lime-green with the rich brown tips they are famous for when grown in full sun, as in the last two photos of a different plant.

An individual mature plant can be anywhere from 300-850 mm wide and from 300-600 mm high. The incredible flower spike can reach 2 or metres high.

Growing Information:
Vriesea philippocoburgii is an epiphytic plant, meaning that in the wild it would normally grow on a tree (without harming it in any way), and thus the roots are designed to attach to a surface rather than to uptake nutrients. They can still grow in pots so long as the medium is free-draining and their leaf ‘cups’ are always filled with water.

Grow this plant in full sun to develop the lime-green leaves with brown tips it is famous for. It is best fertilised with an occasional liquid fertiliser to mimic how epiphytes normally derive nutrients, which is from rotting leaf and other matter collected in the leaves.

The vivid and striking flower spikes emerge over summer and are very long-lasting.

V. philippocoburgii propagates via pups, and an individual plant will steadily multiply into several very easily. The pups are easily divided for potting on.