Bromelia balansae Mez.

Common name(s): Heart of Flame, Heart of Fire, Wild Pineapple

Family: Bromeliaceae
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 4th August, 2021 at Adelaide Botanic Gardens
Leaf
Leaves
Taken by Ken Harrington
Leaf_front
Leaf (Front)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Flower
Flowers
Taken by Unkown
Fruit
Fruit
Taken by Unkown
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Cacti, Succulents, & Allies Properties
Origin(s)
Argentina
  • Argentina: Indigenous
Bolivia, Plurinational State of
  • Bolivia: Indigenous
Brazil
  • Brazil: Indigenous
Colombia
  • Colombia: Indigenous
Paraguay
  • Paraguay: Indigenous
Plant Type
Forb - Perennial Herb, Bromeliad, Succulent Ally, Terrestrial
Forb - Perennial Herb,
Bromeliad,
Succulent Ally,
Terrestrial
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub,
Tropical
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light
Sun - Full,
Shade - Dappled,
Shade - Light
Habitat Range(s)
Rainforest - Sub-tropical, Rainforest - Tropical
Rainforest - Sub-tropical,
Rainforest - Tropical
Habitat Zone(s)
Hill Sides, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Ridges, Rock crevices, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Understory, Well drained, Wind Protected
Hill Sides,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Ridges,
Rock crevices,
Sandy Moist,
Scattered,
Understory,
Well drained,
Wind Protected
Mature Height
900mm-1m, 1-1.5m, 1.5-2m
900mm-1m,
1-1.5m,
1.5-2m
Mature Width
250-300mm, 1-1.5m
250-300mm,
1-1.5m
Plant Shape
Rosette - Spiked
Rosette - Spiked
Rosette - Spiked Rosette - Spiked
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Leaf Properties
Leaf Colour (front)
Green
Green
Leaf Colour (back)
Green
Green
Leaf Shape(s)
Lanceolate-attentuate
Lanceolate-attentuate
Lanceolate-attentuate Lanceolate-attentuate
Leaf Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Waxy
Waxy
Glabrous Glabrous,
Waxy Waxy
Fleshy , Thick
Fleshy,
Thick
Leaf Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Waxy
Waxy
Glabrous Glabrous,
Waxy Waxy
Fleshy , Thick
Fleshy,
Thick
Leaf Length(s)
600-700mm, 700-800mm, 800-900mm, 900mm-1m, 1-1.25m
600-700mm,
700-800mm,
800-900mm,
900mm-1m,
1-1.25m
Leaf Width(s)
15-20mm, 20-25mm, 25-30mm
15-20mm,
20-25mm,
25-30mm
Leaf Arrangement
Rosette
Rosette
Rosette Rosette
Leaf Aroma
None
None
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Bisexual
Flowering Time (start)
Spring Late
Spring Late
Flowering Time (end)
Summer Mid
Summer Mid
Colour(s)
White Tipped, Purple Dark, Violet Dark
White Tipped,
Purple Dark,
Violet Dark
Aroma(s)
None
None
Flower Shape(s)
Tubulate
Tubulate
Tubulate Tubulate
Flower Size(s) Width
15-20mm
15-20mm
Arrangement(s)
Bract Spike
Bract Spike
Bract Spike Bract Spike
Arrangement Size(s)
800-900mm, 900-1000mm, 1-1.5m
800-900mm,
900-1000mm,
1-1.5m
Flowers per Arrangement
many
many
Pollinator(s)
Birds
Birds
Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties
Type
Infructescence
Infructescence
Bacca
Bacca
Infructescence Infructescence,
Bacca Bacca
Erect
Erect
Shape(s)
Ellipsoid
Ellipsoid
Globose
Globose
Orbicular
Orbicular
Ellipsoid Ellipsoid,
Globose Globose,
Orbicular Orbicular
Outer Colour(s)
Orange
Orange
Outer Texture
Glabrous
Glabrous
Smooth
Smooth
Waxy
Waxy
Glabrous Glabrous,
Smooth Smooth,
Waxy Waxy
Length
10-15mm, 15-20mm
10-15mm,
15-20mm
Aroma
Fruity-Moderate
Fruity-Moderate
Season of Fruiting
Summer Late, Autumn Early
Summer Late,
Autumn Early
Maturation for Fruiting
3 mths., 4 mths.
3 mths.,
4 mths.
Root Properties
Type
Rhizome Stoloniferous
Rhizome Stoloniferous
Rhizome Stoloniferous Rhizome Stoloniferous
Soil Properties
pH Range(s)
Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline
Condition(s)
Damp
Damp
Moist
Moist
Moist-Dry
Moist-Dry
Damp Damp,
Moist Moist,
Moist-Dry Moist-Dry
Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Poor,
Shallow,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
None
None
None None
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Watering Requirements
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Poor
Poor
Bird Attraction
Insect, Nectar
Insect,
Nectar
Butterfly Attraction
Poor
Poor
Frog Habitat
Moderate
Moderate
Coastal
2nd Line
2nd Line
Edible(s)
Berry
Berry
Fire Retarding
Moderate
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Frost Tolerance
Poor
Poor
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Smog Tolerant
Moderate
Moderate
Landscape Use
Poor
Poor
Humidity Requirements
Medium, High
Medium,
High
Fertilising Requirements
FR4
FR4
Wind Tolerance
Light Winds
Light Winds

General Notes

Bromelia balansae is a hardy, large terrestrial bromeliad resembling the Pineapple, with sharp spines down the leaves. In its native area, quite often grown as a fence. As it commences flowering the inner leaves turn red followed be the inflorescense that can reach up to 1.2 metres. Like all Bromeliads, once the plant has flowered it dies down leaving 'Pups' or offshoots to continue on. The fruit has been used to make a refreshing drink with a pineapple flavour.