This terrestrial or epiphytic bromeliad has bright green strap-like leathery leaves and forms a clump. It has showy mauve tube-shaped flowers that appear in a spike above the foliage on a tall slender stem and appear during early summer.

Hardiness zones 11 to 12

Aechmea gamosepala is naturally found in South America growing in Brazil in the understory of tropical forests on the ground or in the trees. 

It prefers a well-drained organic rich moist soil or composted leaf mould as an epiphyte. It grows in bright indirect light but tolerates full sun in a wind protected slightly humid position and is frost and drought tender. 

The Vase Plant is grown for its flowers and clumping habit. It is planted in small or tropical gardens as an understory specimen or used in gully settings on the ground and in the forks of trees. It is also mass planted in parks and large gardens as a ground cover or in cold climates it is grown in a glasshouse requiring bright filtered light with low humidity. It will establish from division in 2 to 3 years and is moderately long lived. ID 658

Aechmea (iek-MEE-a)  gamosepala (gam-O-sep-ala)

Bromeliaceae (bro-mee-lee-AY-see-ee)