James H. Schutte
Family
Bromeliaceae
Botanical Name
DYCKIA 'Carlsbad'
Plant Common Name
Hybrid Dyckia
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
Succulent in its rigid, spined leaves, this arid bromeliad resembles a perfectly shaped aloe. This hybrid has Dyckia platyphylla in its lineage, and forms a perfectly domed rosette that eventually multiplies into a large thicket-cluster of plants.
Each leaf of 'Carlsbad' is a wide and long lance and emanates outward from the center. Colored a glossy medium to bright, the leaf edges are sharply teethed and the underside is pale gray-green. In summer's warmth, mature plants send up a tall flower spike that reveals yellow flowers, tubular in shape, that are pollinated by hummingbirds. Winter dryness and chill can bring out reddish blush on leaf tips and edges.
Grow 'Carlsbad' in full to partial sun exposures in a sandy, fast-draining soil that has some organic matter. Tolerant of extreme heat and drought, plants flourish when water is available in the heat of the growing season, and markedly less in the autumn and winter. Use it as a tropical rockery specimen, in a sunny border's foreground, or a container. It tolerates mild subfreezing temperatures as a long as soil is not wet.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 15
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Tender Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
10"-14" / 25.4cm - 35.6cm
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Width
12"-16" / 30.5cm - 40.6cm
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Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
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Native To
North America, South America, Argentina, Brazil
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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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant
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Habit
Rosette/Stemless
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
