Life Span
Perennial
Annual or Biennial
Type
Epiphyte
Epiphyte
Origin
Southeastern United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
South America
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
33
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Swamps
Homesteads, Screen Cottage and Informal Garden, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-139-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Rosette/Stemless
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.60 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Burgundy, Dark Red, Light Green, Violet, Dark Salmon
White, Red
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Light Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green, Burgundy
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Long and slender with very sharp edges
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
-
Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Pot
How to Plant?
Bulbs, By dividing rhizomes, tubers, Divison
Corms or bulbs, From Rhizomes, Rhizome division
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Never Over-water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Soil Type
-
Moist but well drained, Sandy
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Indirect sunlight, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, pollinators
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bouquets, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cancer, Eye Problems
-
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Flowers, Leaves
-
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
-
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border
Houseplant, Informal Garden
Botanical Name
PROSTHECHEA cochleata
Bromeliad
Common Name
Clamshell Orchid, Cockleshell Orchid, Black Orchid
Bromeliad
In Hindi
Clamshell Orchid
Bromeliad
In German
Clamshell Orchid
Bromeliad
In French
Clamshell Orchid
Bromeliad
In Spanish
Clamshell Orchid
Bromeliad
In Greek
Encyclia Cochleata
Bromeliad
In Portuguese
Clamshell Orchid
Bromeliad
In Polish
Clamshell Orchid
Bromeliad
In Latin
Clamshell Orchid
Bromeliad
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Spermatophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Orchidales
Bromeliales
Family
Orchidaceae
Bromeliaceae
Genus
Prosthechea
Aechmea
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
-
Tribe
Epidendreae
-
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
-
Number of Species
503477
1
27800
👆🏻