Which amongst your bromeliads deliver on hummingbirds?

[Rivera]

We grow many bromeliads in our garden, including those that produce a very short flower stalk, such as any of the various forms of Aechmea recurvata. Though the flowers are more of a Violet color, the flower stalk blushes bright red (often the whole plant gets pretty red), which I think would be a beneficial adaptation to attract hummingbirds. I know for some Aechmea, hummingbirds are their primary pollinators, though I'm not sure for this species. 

If you have hummingbirds around, which bromeliads attract them when in flower? Do any of the "short-stalked" species deliver? 

Some photos below, to make things more fun. You'll notice many of our bromeliads are still immature. 

Neoregelia marmorata

Racinae (Tillandsia) fraseri

Dyckia marnier-lapostelii, very very slow to establish, but now putting out a few pups

Tillandsia raackii

Tillandsia hildae

Puya mirabilis

Tillandsia neglecta and a couple clumps of T ionantha showing a single flower

Aechmea racinae

Aechmea recurvata var recurvata forming a flower

Same clone, but with a mottled appearance 

A recurvata var rubra, post-bloom, each with a single pup

Same variety, this one getting ready to push what looks like a very small flower

Aechmea recurvata var benrathii

[Silas_Sancona]

Between Dyckia rariflora and choristamina,  Hummingbirds will fight over a preferred spot nearby when rariflora is in bloom.. 

When it decides to flower, hummers will also visit chioristamina,  ..but for the moment,  rariflora is the " it " Bromeliad for them in the yard..

Recall seeing plenty of hummingbirds buzzing around the Puyas  at the Huntington as well.






 

[epiphyte]

very worthy topic.  catering to hummingbirds is an extraordinarily noble endeavor.  

in terms of bromeliads, vriesea simplex and pitcairnia ringens come to mind.  

[Rivera]

22 hours ago, epiphyte said:

very worthy topic.  catering to hummingbirds is an extraordinarily noble endeavor.  

in terms of bromeliads, vriesea simplex and pitcairnia ringens come to mind.  

Thanks for your input, I have just sourced some seed of Pitcairnia ringens. 

I'm not growing Vriesea simplex, but I do grow a small plant of the somewhat similar in appearance Aechmea racinae.

On 3/24/2025 at 3:44 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

Dyckia rariflora

Nathan, I haven't seen this one available locally, but I have ordered a small plant from the same Nor Cal seller I'm getting the Pitcairnia seeds from. It doesn't look too nasty either, which of course makes weeding less arduous (and less painful). 

I missed it last year, but I intend to check out the SF Botanical Garden's bromeliad plant sale this year. Their offerings are hit-or-miss, but when the SFBG has uncommon to rare plants, they tend to price them very reasonably and don't make a big fuss about it.

[Silas_Sancona]

1 minute ago, Rivera said:

Nathan, I haven't seen this one available locally, but I have ordered a small plant from the same Nor Cal seller I'm getting the Pitcairnia seeds from. It doesn't look too nasty either, which of course makes weeding less arduous (and less painful). 

I missed it last year, but I intend to check out the SF Botanical Garden's bromeliad plant sale this year. Their offerings are hit-or-miss, but when the SFBG has uncommon to rare plants, they tend to price them very reasonably and don't make a big fuss about it.

D.  rariflora is probably the " nicest " Dyckia you can get your hands on...  Leaves may be fairly rigid/ tips a bit pointy, but, no spines along the leaf margins at- all-..  Is also tough as nails..

When i repotted my specimen, a smaller offset broke off w/ out any apparent roots.  Stuck it in a pot w/ my remaining Boswellia sacra where the soil is basically sand and Turface MVP.. Barely water either and ..While it did sit not seeming to do much for several months, is moving -a bit faster- now.  Doesn't seem bothered by sitting where it gets more sun than the main plant either, and neither has flinched w/ those brief 33 -29F morning lows we can see in January.

Bigger plant that went into a 16" wide / 9" deep clay pot?  is quickly filling it..  Soil is basically Turface MVP, wash grit, Pumice ..and some Cocopeat.. 

D. choristaminea has leaf margin spines, but they're tiny and seem pretty flexible / brittle  -compared to many other Dyckia i've seen / handled at least.. It too seems to really like the chunky soil i dropped it in when i repotted it last year.

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

D.  rariflora is probably the " nicest " Dyckia you can get your hands on...  Leaves may be fairly rigid/ tips a bit pointy, but, no spines along the leaf margins at- all-..  Is also tough as nails..

When i repotted my specimen, a smaller offset broke off w/ out any apparent roots.  Stuck it in a pot w/ my remaining Boswellia sacra where the soil is basically sand and Turface MVP.. Barely water either and ..While it did sit not seeming to do much for several months, is moving -a bit faster- now.  Doesn't seem bothered by sitting where it gets more sun than the main plant either, and neither has flinched w/ those brief 33 -29F morning lows we can see in January.

Bigger plant that went into a 16" wide / 9" deep clay pot?  is quickly filling it..  Soil is basically Turface MVP, wash grit, Pumice ..and some Cocopeat.. 

D. choristaminea has leaf margin spines, but they're tiny and seem pretty flexible / brittle  -compared to many other Dyckia i've seen / handled at least.. It too seems to really like the chunky soil i dropped it in when i repotted it last year.

The big D. rariflora  specimen..



Offset in w/ Boswellia sacra


D. choristaminea..  Had been in a 1gal for approx. 3 or 4 years before i finally repotted it.

[Tracy]

I have some Dyckia with orange flowers that seem very popular with th humming birds every year.  I don't recall the species or hybrid names.  The plant below is in bloom right now.

Puya miribilis is a consistent bloomer every year but the yellow green flowers aren't the most popular with humming birds.   The turquoise flowers with orange in the center of Puya alpestris definitely attracts humming birds.  The problem with both subspecies of Puya alpestris is they don't bloom very frequently.   I have had one bloom each on the two  clumps over 15 years.  One on each ssp.

[Silas_Sancona]

6 minutes ago, Tracy said:

I have some Dyckia with orange flowers that seem very popular with th humming birds every year.  I don't recall the species or hybrid names.  The plant below is in bloom right now.

Puya miribilis is a consistent bloomer every year but the yellow green flowers aren't the most popular with humming birds.   The turquoise flowers with orange in the center of Puya alpestris definitely attracts humming birds.  The problem with both subspecies of Puya alpestris is they don't bloom very frequently.   I have had one bloom each on the two  clumps over 15 years.  One on each ssp.

Gonz would be able to confirm  ...or point elsewhere.., but gut hunch stab in the dark = D. fosteriana  could be involved in which ever yours is.. Obviously more intimidating than rariflora,  and pretty common..  Perhaps a cross between it and something like D. encholiiriodes or frigida.. 🤔