An assortment of Bromeliads in a Full Sun Garden in South West Florida
I often get requests for bromeliads that can handle full sun, either in the landscape or as a potted specimen in a full sun location. On the surface this seems to be a simple question, and simple questions usually have simple answers, right? Well in this case, this is a much more complex question than you would think. Full sun bromeliads are going to differ depending on the location they are in. For example, the intensity of the sun in Miami, FL is not the same as it is in Boston, MA. For that matter, it can even differ from Long Beach, CA to Palm Springs, CA.
Two variables that can highly influence a plants ability to withstand a full sun location are humidity and latitude. Higher humidity will enable a plant to withstand more direct sunlight, and therefore, a beach location may enable a plant to adapt to full sun while a desert location will burn the plants leaves until they wither and die. Likewise, lower latitude sunshine will be more intense than that in the higher latitudes, especially in winter.
Other factors that will come into play will be when the plant is to be placed in a full sun location. Moving the plant from a shady to full sun environment is never a good idea. Do it in steps, allowing it to get a little more light each week until it is in full sun. Also, moving your plant at a time of year when the sun is less intense will allow the plant to adjust with less shock or trauma.
Another factor is root system. Although most Bromeliads are epiphytes, healthy root systems play a tremendous role in how well a bromeliad will handle a full sun situation. That is one of the reasons why planting in early spring is better for adapting the plant, the plant will have time to develop a greater root system for the uptake of moisture and nutrients when stressed with full intense sun. Letting your plants pup in full sun will also create a plant that is ready to withstand the rigors of this environment by allowing slow adjustments as it grows better roots and stronger leaves.
Here is a list of full sun tolerant plants that was published by the Bromeliad Society of South Florida:
Full Sun Bromeliads
Aechmea mexicana (also the albomarginated form)
Aechmea bracteata (all forms)
Alcantarea vinicolor (tougher than imperialis)
Portea petropolitana (both var. petropolitana and var. extensa, the more common one)
Aechmea recurvata var. ortgiesii
Most Dyckias and Hechtias (they’ll require more frequent watering).
The genus Pitcairnia is usually very sun-tolerant.
The plants in the above list are the most readily available. More uncommon species, also recommended, are:
Aechmea distichantha var. schlumbergeri
View all of our full sun bromeliads for sale.