Bromeliad Plant

Alcantarea extensa is a giant bromeliad grown as living sculpture. The rosette opens to about 1.2m tall and 1.2m across, a symmetrical bowl of broad grey green leaves that holds its shape all year with almost no input from you. Mature plants send up a tall spike carrying red and yellow flowers well clear of the foliage.

Why you'll love it

• Architecture without maintenance. The rosette is naturally symmetrical, so you get a designed look with no pruning, staking or shaping.
• It stores its own water. Leaf bases hold a reservoir, which is why it is drought tolerant and forgives a missed fortnight.
• Coastal and poolside proof. Salt tolerant and unbothered by heat and humidity, with no leaf drop into the water.
• Pet friendly. Not toxic to cats or dogs, which is unusual among bold feature plants of this size.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One plant carries a corner of a courtyard or a bed on its own. Set it where the rosette can be seen from above as well as from the side.

Pots and poolside. A pot 400mm or wider suits a single plant, and the clean leaves and lack of litter make it a genuinely low fuss choice beside paving and pool fencing.

Mass planting. Plant 1m apart for a bold massed bed. That spacing lets each rosette hold its full 1.2m spread without leaves overlapping and spoiling the form.

Growing Alcantarea in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade to filtered sun, with a few hours of morning sun bringing out the best leaf colour. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It is frost tender, so anywhere that frosts it needs a pot that can move under cover, or a bright indoor position.

Soil. Free draining above all else: a coarse orchid or bromeliad mix, or garden soil opened up with bark and grit. Wet feet rot the base faster than any other mistake.

Water and feed. Water into the centre of the rosette and let the mix dry between drinks. Flush the cup out every few weeks in still weather so it does not stagnate. A weak liquid feed twice over spring and summer is plenty.

Pruning. None. Pull off old outer leaves as they brown, and after the flower spike finishes, remove the spent rosette and let the pups around its base take over.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes as a single plant in a 300mm pot, or as a 200mm pack of six for massed planting. Both arrive well short of the full 1.2m: this is a slow growing plant, and reaching mature size takes several years rather than a season. What you buy is a young rosette with the shape already forming.

Bromeliads travel better than most plants because the thick leaves carry their own moisture. Leave yours somewhere sheltered and bright for a week before planting out. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95 and our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A guide to bromeliad varieties
• Browse more plants for poolside gardens
• Check the wider list of plants safe for pets
• Find companions in architectural plants for designer gardens

Common questions

Does it die after flowering?

The individual rosette does, which is normal for this genus and takes many years to arrive. Before it goes it produces pups at the base, so the planting continues without you buying again.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. It is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can sit at floor level indoors or in a garden where pets roam.

How much sun can it take?

Part shade to filtered sun is ideal. Full afternoon sun in a hot inland garden will bleach and scorch the leaves, so give it overhead protection there.

Can I grow it indoors?

Yes, in a bright spot with indirect light, which is also the practical answer in frosty districts. Keep the potting mix free draining and water into the cup rather than soaking the mix.