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 Margin(s)
Serrate
Serrate
Toothed
Toothed
Serrate Serrate,
Toothed Toothed
Finely
Finely
Leaf Arrangement
Fascicled
Fascicled
Rosette
Rosette
Fascicled Fascicled,
Rosette Rosette
Leaf Cross Section(s)
Channelled
Channelled
Channelled Channelled
Apice(s)
Acute Narrowly
Acute Narrowly
Aristate
Aristate
Acute Narrowly Acute Narrowly,
Aristate Aristate
Base(s)
Truncate
Truncate
Truncate Truncate
Leaf Aroma
None
None
Leaf Attachment
Sessile
Sessile
Sessile Sessile
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
Stamen Colour(s)
Yellow
Yellow
Petal Number
3
Stamen Number
6
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.
Seed Properties
Type
Achene
Achene
Achene Achene
Seed Dispersal
Animals, Birds
Animals,
Birds
Seed Number
many
Root Properties
Type
Epiphytic
Epiphytic
Rhizome Stoloniferous
Rhizome Stoloniferous
Epiphytic Epiphytic,
Rhizome Stoloniferous Rhizome Stoloniferous
Texture
Fibrous
Fibrous
Invasiveness
None
None
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Organic Matter, Soil-less, No Soil
Organic Matter,
Soil-less,
No Soil
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 Regeneration(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
Moderate
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Minimum Temperature Tolerance
0 - 2°C
0 - 2°C
Smog Tolerant
Moderate
Moderate
Landscape Use
Moderate
Moderate
Street Use
None
None
Commercial Use(s)
Horticulture - Amenity
Horticulture - Amenity
Maintenance(s)
Dead Heading, Dead Leaf Removal, Dividing - Spring
Dead Heading,
Dead Leaf Removal,
Dividing - Spring
Pests/Diseases
Mealy Bug, Scale
Mealy Bug,
Scale
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Border Plant, Garden-Container, Fire Retarding, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Cottage, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Rock, Garden-Tropical, Irritating-Leaves, Shade Tolerant, Shady Dry, Shady Moist, Sunny Moist, Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's
Garden-Border Plant,
Garden-Container,
Fire Retarding,
Garden-Coastal,
Garden-Cottage,
Garden-Courtyard,
Garden-Indoors,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Rock,
Garden-Tropical,
Irritating-Leaves,
Shade Tolerant,
Shady Dry,
Shady Moist,
Sunny Moist,
Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares,
Tolerant-Deer,
Tolerant-Kangaroo's
Dormancy
Winter
Winter
Humidity Requirements
Medium, High
Medium,
High
Vulnerability
LC - Least Concern
LC - Least Concern
Altitude Range - Habitat
2,250-2,500m, 2,500-2,750m, 2,750-3,000m
2,250-2,500m,
2,500-2,750m,
2,750-3,000m
Fertilising Requirements
FR2
FR2
Wind Tolerance
Moderate Winds
Moderate Winds
Propagation
Offsets

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.

Propagation Notes

Offsets
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 Soil + 1 part Orchid bark

Treatment

3/4 fill the 140mm pot with mix. Hold the offset over the 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