Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Epiphyte
  
Origin
Africa, Asia, Polynesia, Australia
  
South America
  
Types
assera , caerulea , cinerascens , petasmatodes
  
Aechmea 'Albright Red', Aechmea 'Amazonense', Aechmea 'Amazonia'
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
mild coastal areas, Upland sandy savannas
  
tropical environments
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
10-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
12-1
  
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Rosette/Stemless
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Blue, Blue Violet
  
Yellow, Red
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Blue, Violet
  
Blue, White
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green, Dark Green
  
Chocolate, Silver
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green, Dark Green
  
Chocolate, Silver
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green, Dark Green
  
Chocolate, Silver
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Chocolate, Silver
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Long Narrow
  
Spine-edged leaves
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
  
Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought, Heat Tolerance, Light Frost
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
  
Stem Cutting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
  
Keep ground moist, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
  
Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Cut away fading foliage, Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, High-phosphorous fertilizers used, light feeding and water solubles, slow-release fertilizers
  
Pests and Diseases
Crown rot, Fungal leaf spots
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought, Heat Tolerance, Light Frost
  
Not Available
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Not Available
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Caterpillar
  
Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
breathing problems, Dizziness, poisonous if ingested
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Showy Purposes, small hedge, Wild gardens
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Unknown
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Insignificant
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Unknown
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Flowers
  
Other Uses
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators
  
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Sometimes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
DIANELLA caerulea
  
AECHMEA chantinii 'Black Chantinii'
  
Common Name
Blue Flax Lily, Blueberry Lily, Paroo Lily
  
Aechmea, Black Aechmea, Black Chantinii Bromeliad
  
In Hindi
blue flax lily
  
Black Aechmea
Plant
  
In German
blau Flachs Lilie
  
Schwarz Aechmea
Pflanze
  
In French
Dianella caerulea
  
Noir Aechmea
Plante
  
In Spanish
Dianella caerulea
  
negro de Aechmea
Planta
  
In Greek
Dianella caerulea
  
μαύρο Αιχμέα
Φυτό
  
In Portuguese
blue flax lily
  
preto Aechmea
Plantar
  
In Polish
blue flax lily
  
Czarny Aechmea
Roślina
  
In Latin
blue flax lily
  
niger Nidularium
planta
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Vascular plant
  
Class
Monocots
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Asparagales
  
Poales
  
Family
Liliaceae
  
Bromeliaceae
  
Genus
Dianella
  
Aechmea
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Bromelioideae