• Photo of Vriesea (Vrieseas)

Plant Profile: Vriesea

Taxonomy: Vriesea

Names

Flaming Sword, Urn Plant, Vriesea

  • Photo of Vriesea (Vrieseas)

Phonetic Spelling:VREE-zee-uh

Genus:Vriesea

Species:

Family:Bromeliaceae

This genus within the bromeliad family encompasses hundreds of species, known for being low-maintenance epiphytes that feature striking foliage and vibrant flowers. The plants range in size from small to quite large and have diverse light requirements, thriving in conditions from shade to bright light. Most of them grow in a rosette shape, characterized by a central vase that collects water and nutrients.

These plants are commonly utilized in commercial settings such as offices and shopping malls due to their colorful, long-lasting blooms and attractive banded leaves. As epiphytes, they require minimal water at their base; however, it is essential to keep the central vase filled and to refresh the water regularly.

Overall, they are relatively easy to cultivate as houseplants, bringing a touch of the tropics into any home.

**Quick Identification**

Vriesea Feature Summary

Vriesea Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#houseplant
#showy leaves
#interiorscape
#low maintenance
#winter interest
#fantz
#tropical feel
#container plants

Similar Plants

Vriesea is often confused with:

Vriesea Feature Summary

Attributes
Mexico to Tropical America
Perennial
Flowers
Inflorescence is an erect, bracteate flower scape, terminal, up to 30 inches tall, with flowers in 2 rows between bracts. Flowers are red, yellow, or orange, small; bracts bright red, yellow, green, usually 2-ranked.
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Orange
Leaves
Leaves are in basal rosette, forming funnel-like central 'vase', simple, strap-shaped, entire, usually banded surfaces.
Green
Variegated
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
10a
10b
11a
11b
12a
12b
Landscape
Container
Houseplants

Vriesea Attributes

Vriesea: Country Or Region Of Origin

Mexico to Tropical America

Vriesea: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Vriesea Flowers

Vriesea: Flower Description

Inflorescence is an erect, bracteate flower scape, terminal, up to 30 inches tall, with flowers in 2 rows between bracts. Flowers are red, yellow, or orange, small; bracts bright red, yellow, green, usually 2-ranked.

Vriesea: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Orange
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy

Vriesea: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Vriesea: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Vriesea Leaves

Vriesea: Leaf Description

Leaves are in basal rosette, forming funnel-like central 'vase', simple, strap-shaped, entire, usually banded surfaces.

Vriesea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Vriesea: Leaf Color

spa
Green
spa
Variegated

Vriesea: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Vriesea: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Vriesea: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Vriesea: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Vriesea Whole Plant Traits

Vriesea: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Vriesea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Vriesea: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Vriesea: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Vriesea: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Vriesea Cultural Conditions

Vriesea: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Vriesea: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Vriesea: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Vriesea: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
12a
thermostat
12b

Vriesea Stem

Vriesea: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Vriesea Landscape

Vriesea: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland