James H. Schutte
Family
Bromeliaceae
Botanical Name
DYCKIA encholirioides
Plant Common Name
Dyckia
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
This bromeliad will definitely fool you, since you'll be determined to call it a species of agave. A large and handsome plant, the highland dyckia hails from central and southern Brazil and adjacent northeastern Argentina. Its leaves are rigid and will curl and bend as needed for best reception of sunlight. This bromeliad usually is in a loose cluster of two to three others, flopping and twisting in the rocky outcroppings where it grows.
Leaves are long and lined in small spines. Medium green in color, the undersides have bright silver longitudinal lines. The rosette will grow as large as a bushel basket and about knee-high. In summer's warmth, mature plants send up a tall, branched flower spike that reveals scores of apricot-orange flowers, tubular in shape, that are pollinated by hummingbirds.
Grow the highland dyckia in full to partial sun exposures in a sandy, fast-draining soil that has some organic matter. Tolerant of heat, saltspray 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 subtropical rockery specimen, in a seaside cliff, in a sunny border among agave and aloe, or in a large container. It tolerates mild subfreezing temperatures as a long as soil is not wet. It becomes too large to use as a houseplant. Variety rubra loks similar but its flower stalk is noticeably burgundy-red.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 12
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 12, 13, 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
18"-22" / 45.7cm - 55.9cm
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Width
24"-34" / 61.0cm - 86.4cm
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Bloom Time
Late Spring, 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
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Sand
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Tolerances
Drought, Salt
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, 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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Flower Color
Orange
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Fruit Color
Sandy Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green, Olive, Gray Green
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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
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, 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
