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Neoregelia ‘Big Rose’

COMMON NAMES

Big Rose Neoregelia

Neoregelia (nee-oh-re-GEL-ee-uh) – for Edward von Regel (1815-1892), German botanist

‘Big Rose’ – cultivar name; unknown parentage

GROUP 

Monocot

FAMILY 

Bromeliaceae

ORIGIN

Florida

DESCRIPTION

Big Rose Neoregelia is an herbaceous perennial bromeliad that averages 18 to 24 inches in height and 18 to 24 inches in width with upright growth, stiff leaves and funnel-shaped rosettes. It produces offsets on stolons from the base. It has a slow to moderate growth rate.

Leaves are evergreen, strap-shaped, leathery, simple with a pointed tip, glossy, stiff, basal rosette in arrangement, and stemless. Color is a variable combination of yellow and red spotting with red tips. The entire margins have small, sharp spines along the edges and it has parallel veins. It has a central tube-shaped cup.

Flowers are small, violet to blue and white, and form in the rosette, often just above the water line.

HARDINESS

It is hardy in USDA zones 10 to 12.

LIGHT

Full sun; Part shade – brighter light brings more vibrant colors; bright filtered light indoors

SALT

Poor Salt Spray Tolerance – it’s risky for this plant to be put in a coastal area as it has minimal tolerance. It would require multiple layers of protection such as in a greenhouse, indoors, or in a small enclosed area such as a courtyard beyond the dunes. This is a general recommendation. Some Neoregelia are more salt tolerant. What little evidence is available has not shown ‘Big Rose’ to be highly salt tolerant.

SOIL

It will grow on most any well-drained soil or epiphyte mix that is moist and organic in nature.

WATERING

It prefers consistently moist soil. It likes to have water in the vase rosette, especially in the summer.

PROPAGATION

Separation of offsets at the base of the plant; tissue culture

PRUNING

Basically just removal of dead leaves to keep it tidy

FERTILIZING

It has no special fertilizer needs. Unless a soil test suggests otherwise, a slow-release balanced analysis fertilizer applied per the product label will work. In general, Bromeliads are not heavy feeders.

PESTS

Mealybugs; Mexican Bromeliad Weevil; Boisduval Scale, Slugs

DISEASES

Bacterial Leaf Blight, Root Rots on overly wet soils

DEER

Seldom bothered

There are very few totally “deer-proof” plants. There are also, relatively speaking, few plants that are considered a preferred food supply of deer. Most plants fall in the big gap between. One of the biggest variables is the available preferred food supply in a given area. If their preferred food is scarce, they will munch on most anything.

OTHER

USES

Containers, interiorscapes, shade gardens, epiphytic sites, mass planting, specimen plant, tropical effect

TOXICITY

A search of ASPCA, Texas A&M University, Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System, University of Wisconsin, Poisonous Houseplants and Ornamentals - Merck Vet Manual, Purdue University - Guide to Toxic Plants in Forages, Poisonous Plants of the Southeastern United States - Alabama Cooperative Extension, Florida Poison Control, University of California, and The Cat Fanciers Association did not show this specific plant on any of their lists.

California Poison Control lists Neoregelia spp. as non-toxic.

University of California lists Neoregelia spp. as safe.

ASPCA lists Neoregelia spp. as non-toxic to dogs and cats.