James Burghardt
Family
Bromeliaceae
Botanical Name
AECHMEA 'Little Harv'
Plant Common Name
Aechmea, Little Harv Aechmea, Little Harv Bromeliad
General Description
The showy bromeliad, ‘Little Harv’, is a tropical perennial grown primarily for its pretty long-lasting blooms and upright habit. This pretty hybrid selection was introduced by Bullis Bromeliads in Princeton, Florida and is not as little as its name suggests.
The foliage is blue-green dusted with silver. It is broad, thick and lance-shaped with small sharp spines on the edges. When grown in full sun, they develop tinges of red. The rosettes of leaves are cupped and somewhat upright. A towering, branched flower spike appears from the center of the rosette in midspring. The flowers on the spike are yellow and salmon hued and supported by salmon-pink bracts. After the central plant flowers, it dies, but not before it creates young plants, or pups, at its base. These grow to replace the dying parent plant.
This versatile tropical can be grown in the ground, a container or as a tropical epiphyte. It requires bright filtered light or dappled sun and moist, gritty, humus-rich potting media. Keep the central cup filled with water and mist it regularly, especially in the high heat of summer. Bromeliads make interesting conservatory or house plants. In frost free climates they can be grown outdoors, either in a moist, fast-draining soil, attached to a tree, or set in a wire basket or container.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
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Plant Type
Tender Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
26"-36" / 66.0cm - 91.4cm
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Width
18"-26" / 45.7cm - 66.0cm
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Native To
Hybrid Origin
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Sand
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Rosette/Stemless
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
Yes
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Hummingbirds
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Self-Sowing
No
