Bromelia balansae Mez.

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

Family: Bromeliaceae

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 4th August, 2021 at Adelaide Botanic Gardens

Leaves

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaf (Front)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Flowers

Taken by Unkown

Fruit

Taken by Unkown

Expand all

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

Growth Rate

Fast

Leaf Properties

Leaf Colour (front)

Green

Leaf Colour (back)

Green

Leaf Shape(s)

Lanceolate-attentuate

Leaf Texture (front)

Glabrous

Waxy

Glabrous,

Waxy

Fleshy , Thick

Fleshy,

Thick

Leaf Texture (back)

Glabrous

Waxy

Glabrous,

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 Margin(s)

Toothed

Leaf Arrangement

Rosette

Leaf Cross Section(s)

Concave

Apice(s)

Acute Narrowly

Aristate

Acute Narrowly,

Aristate

Base(s)

Truncate

Leaf Venation

Parallel

Leaf Aroma

None

Leaf Attachment

Sessile

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Flowering Time (start)

Spring Late

Flowering Time (end)

Summer Mid

Colour(s)

White Tipped, Purple Dark, Violet Dark

White Tipped,

Purple Dark,

Violet Dark

Aroma(s)

None

Flower Shape(s)

Tubulate

Flower Size(s) Width

15-20mm

Arrangement(s)

Bract Spike

Arrangement Size(s)

800-900mm, 900-1000mm, 1-1.5m

800-900mm,

900-1000mm,

1-1.5m

Flowers per Arrangement

many

Pollinator(s)

Birds

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Infructescence

Bacca

Infructescence,

Bacca

Erect

Shape(s)

Ellipsoid

Globose

Orbicular

Ellipsoid,

Globose,

Orbicular

Outer Colour(s)

Orange

Outer Texture

Glabrous

Smooth

Waxy

Glabrous,

Smooth,

Waxy

Length

10-15mm, 15-20mm

10-15mm,

15-20mm

Aroma

Fruity-Moderate

Season of Fruiting

Summer Late, Autumn Early

Summer Late,

Autumn Early

Maturation for Fruiting

3 mths., 4 mths.

3 mths.,

4 mths.

Seed Properties

Type

Achene

Colour(s)

Black, Glossy

Black,

Glossy

Texture(s)

Glabrous

Smooth

Glabrous,

Smooth

Seed Dispersal

Animals, Birds

Animals,

Birds

Seed Number

many

Root Properties

Type

Rhizome Stoloniferous

Texture

Cord-like , Stiff

Cord-like,

Stiff

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Loam, Sandy-loam, Shaley, Organic Matter

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Shaley,

Organic Matter

pH Range(s)

Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline

Condition(s)

Damp

Moist

Moist-Dry

Damp,

Moist,

Moist-Dry

Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Poor,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

None

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Watering Requirements

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Poor

Bird Attraction

Insect, Nectar

Insect,

Nectar

Butterfly Attraction

Poor

Frog Habitat

Moderate

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

Berry

Fire Retarding

Moderate

Drought Tolerance

Moderate

Frost Tolerance

Poor

Snow Tolerance

None

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

2 - 4°C

Smog Tolerant

Moderate

Indigenous Use(s)

Fruit - Eaten cooked, Fruit - Fermented, alcohol, Leaves - Fibre, textiles, clothing, Leaves - Traditional medicine, Stems - Shoots - eaten cooked

Fruit - Eaten cooked,

Fruit - Fermented, alcohol,

Leaves - Fibre, textiles, clothing,

Leaves - Traditional medicine,

Stems - Shoots - eaten cooked

Landscape Use

Poor

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Leaf Removal

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Container, Fire Retarding, Fruit-aromatic, Fruit-decorative, Garden-Cacti, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Edible, Garden-Informal, Garden-Rock, Garden-Tropical, Garden-Xeriscape, Interesting Buds or Fruit, Irritating-Sap, Irritating-Spines, Shady Dry, Shady Moist, Specimen, Suckering, Sunny Dry, Sunny Moist, Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Garden-Container,

Fire Retarding,

Fruit-aromatic,

Fruit-decorative,

Garden-Cacti,

Garden-Coastal,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Edible,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Rock,

Garden-Tropical,

Garden-Xeriscape,

Interesting Buds or Fruit,

Irritating-Sap,

Irritating-Spines,

Shady Dry,

Shady Moist,

Specimen,

Suckering,

Sunny Dry,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Dormancy

Winter

Humidity Requirements

Medium, High

Medium,

High

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Altitude Range - Habitat

0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m, 500-600m, 600-700m, 700-800m, 800-900m, 900-1,000m

0-100m,

100-200m,

200-300m,

300-400m,

400-500m,

500-600m,

600-700m,

700-800m,

800-900m,

900-1,000m

Fertilising Requirements

FR4

Wind Tolerance

Light Winds

Propagation

Fresh Seed, Offsets

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.

Propagation Notes

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Offsets

Flowering

Summer Mid, Spring Late

Division

Summer Early, Spring

Material Preparation

Select offsets that are approximately a 1/3 or more the size of the mother plant. Either pull away or with a sharp knife, slice down the side of the stem of the mother plant to remove the offset with roots attached where possible. Place to one side and allow the wound to callous for 4 - 8 hours.

Propagating Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part Orchid Bark

Treatment

3/4 fill the 140mm pot with mix. Hold the offset over the soil mix in the pot and back fill around the offset and firm down. The offset should stand firm and be approximately 20 - 30mm into the mix, not too deep or it will rot. Water the pots of mix thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. Place in cold house, keep moist. Maintain cold house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 75-95 %

Nursery Stock 90-99 %

Rooting time:- Field Stock 4 - 8 weeks

Nursery Stock 4 - 8 weeks

Notes

Once the plant has finished flowering it will start to die, the offsets remaining will get nutrients from the dying plant and take better root. They can be divided easily after that with a good root system. Bromeliad balansae can send out suckers before the flowering stimulation.

Fresh Seed

Flowering

Summer Mid, Spring Early

Seed Collecting

Summer Mid, Autumn Mid

Sowing

Spring Early

Material Preparation

Collect the berries once they have ripened. Remove as much of the flesh as possible while it is fresh. Wash off the remaining flesh in a bucket of water with solvol soap, rinse and lay out to dry in a tray or on paper towel. Store in a cool, dark place. For best results plant as soon as possible.

Viability:- 3 - 6 months

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

Fill seedling tray and firm down. Surface sow seed, light enhances germination, water in well with Previcur fungicide mix. Place on 21° heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 75-95% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 20 - 45 days

Pricking out:-

Tube Mix:- 1 part Premium Potting Mix + 2 parts coarse washed Sand

Pot Mix:- 1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part Orchid Grade Bark