Billbergia nutans H. Wendl.

Common name(s): Queen's Tears, Friendship Plant

Family: Bromeliaceae Synonym(s): Billbergia linearifolia Baker, Billbergia minuta Mez.
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 10th October, 2020 at Mount Gambier, South Australia
Leaf_front
Leaf (Front)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Inflorescence
Inflorescence
Taken by Ken Harrington
Flower
Flowers
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Cacti, Succulents, & Allies Properties
Origin(s)
Argentina
  • Argentina: Indigenous
Brazil
  • Brazil: Indigenous
Paraguay
  • Paraguay: Indigenous
Uruguay
  • Uruguay: Indigenous
Plant Type
Forb - Perennial Herb, Bromeliad, Epiphytic
Forb - Perennial Herb,
Bromeliad,
Epiphytic
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub,
Tropical
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Morning, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light
Sun - Morning,
Shade - Dappled,
Shade - Light
Habitat Range(s)
Rainforest - Sub-tropical, Rainforest - Tropical
Rainforest - Sub-tropical,
Rainforest - Tropical
Habitat Zone(s)
Arboreal, Gullies / Valley's / Canyons, Rock crevices, Scattered, Slopes, Understory, Well drained, Wind Protected
Arboreal,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyons,
Rock crevices,
Scattered,
Slopes,
Understory,
Well drained,
Wind Protected
Mature Height
450-500mm, 500 -550mm, 550-600mm, 600-700mm
450-500mm,
500 -550mm,
550-600mm,
600-700mm
Mature Width
150-200mm, 200-250mm
150-200mm,
200-250mm
Plant Shape
Clump - Upright
Clump - Upright
Clump - Upright Clump - Upright
Growth Rate
Moderate, Fast
Moderate,
Fast
Maturity
2-4 yrs.
2-4 yrs.
Life Span
2-5yrs
2-5yrs
Leaf Properties
Leaf Colour (front)
Green Dark
Green Dark
Leaf Colour (back)
Green Dark
Green Dark
Leaf Shape(s)
Acicular
Acicular
Linear
Linear
Recurved
Recurved
Acicular Acicular,
Linear Linear,
Recurved Recurved
Leaf Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Ribbed
Ribbed
Scaly
Scaly
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery,
Ribbed Ribbed,
Scaly Scaly
Leaf Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Lepidate
Lepidate
Smooth
Smooth
Waxy
Waxy
Glabrous Glabrous,
Lepidate Lepidate,
Smooth Smooth,
Waxy Waxy
Leaf Length(s)
250-300mm, 300-400mm
250-300mm,
300-400mm
Leaf Width(s)
9-10mm, 10-15mm
9-10mm,
10-15mm
Leaf Arrangement
Fascicled
Fascicled
Rosette
Rosette
Fascicled Fascicled,
Rosette Rosette
Leaf Aroma
None
None
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Bisexual
Flowering Time (start)
Spring
Spring
Flowering Time (end)
Summer Mid
Summer Mid
Colour(s)
Blue, Green, Pink
Blue,
Green,
Pink
Aroma(s)
None
None
Flower Shape(s)
Tubulate
Tubulate
Tubulate Tubulate
Pendulous
Pendulous
Flower Size(s) Width
15-20mm, 20-25mm
15-20mm,
20-25mm
Arrangement(s)
Bract Spike
Bract Spike
Scape
Scape
Bract Spike Bract Spike,
Scape Scape
Arrangement Size(s)
250-275mm, 275-300mm, 300-325mm, 325-350mm
250-275mm,
275-300mm,
300-325mm,
325-350mm
Flowers per Arrangement
many
many
Pollinator(s)
Birds
Birds
Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties
Type
Bacca
Bacca
Bacca Bacca
Outer Colour(s)
Red
Red
Aroma
None
None
Season of Fruiting
Summer Mid
Summer Mid
Maturation for Fruiting
3 mths., 4 mths.
3 mths.,
4 mths.
Root Properties
Type
Epiphytic
Epiphytic
Rhizome Stoloniferous
Rhizome Stoloniferous
Epiphytic Epiphytic,
Rhizome Stoloniferous Rhizome Stoloniferous
Invasiveness
None
None
Soil Properties
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline
Condition(s)
Damp
Damp
Moist
Moist
Moist-Dry
Moist-Dry
Damp Damp,
Moist Moist,
Moist-Dry Moist-Dry
Poor , Shallow , Well Drained
Poor,
Shallow,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight
Slight
Slight Slight
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Watering Requirements
WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period, WR10 - water overhead. Wetting foliage is required, WR11 - periodic misting to maintain humidity
WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period,
WR10 - water overhead. Wetting foliage is required,
WR11 - periodic misting to maintain humidity
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Poor
Poor
Bird Attraction
Insect, Nectar
Insect,
Nectar
Butterfly Attraction
None
None
Frog Habitat
Poor
Poor
Coastal
1st Line
1st Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
Moderate
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Smog Tolerant
Moderate
Moderate
Landscape Use
Moderate
Moderate
Pests/Diseases
Mealy Bug, Scale
Mealy Bug,
Scale
Humidity Requirements
Medium, High
Medium,
High
Fertilising Requirements
FR2
FR2
Wind Tolerance
Moderate Winds
Moderate Winds

General Notes

An epiphytic plant really, though often grown in gardens with well drain soil as a border plant. A narrow, tubular shaped, upright plant that will have arching leaves as they age. Producing numerous offsets all year round, it will spread over an area in a period of time.  One of the hardiest of the Bromeliad family and easy to grow. The common name of Queen's Tears comes from the amount of nectar the flower produces.

There are two recognized varieties and many cultivars

  • Billbegia nutans var. nutans
  • Billbegia nutans var. schimperiana (Wittm. ex Baker) Mez.