Other Names:  syn. Abromeitiella lorentziana, D. abstrusa

Description:

A terrestrial bromeliad that forms dense mounds called pollsters; small rosettes of small, triangular, silvery-white leaves with sharp terminal spines; interesting, subtle chartreuse blooms in late winter; great in containers or rock gardens

Ornamental Features

Abromeitiella's attractive tomentose pointy leaves emerge lime green in spring, turning grayish green in color with curious white undersides and tinges of silver the rest of the year on a plant with a mounded habit of growth. It features subtle chartreuse tubular flowers with lime green overtones and buttery yellow tips held atop the stems from late winter to early spring.

Landscape Attributes

Abromeitiella is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a mounded form. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spiny

Abromeitiella is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Abromeitiella will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.

Abromeitiella is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.