Aechmea blanchetiana ‘Hawaii’
 
Common Names Hawaii Vase Plant, Orange Sword Bromeliad
 
Zones 9B–11
 
A bold, architectural bromeliad native to Brazil and cultivated widely in tropical landscapes, Aechmea blanchetiana ‘Hawaii’ is prized for its vivid orange foliage and dramatic flower spikes. This cultivar features bronze-orange sword-shaped leaves and upright inflorescences with buttery yellow bracts and reddish stems2. Though too large for indoor use, it thrives in full sun and makes a striking specimen or mass planting in coastal gardens.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Upright rosette; vase-shaped; clumping over time
Height: Typically 3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m); up to 4 ft wide; 4–5 ft tall in bloom
Leaves: Sword-shaped; bronze to orange; finely serrate margins; up to 36 in long
Bark: Herbaceous; no woody structure
Flowers: Stiff upright spikes; yellow bracts with red stems; bloom spring through fall2
Fruit: Inconspicuous; not showy
Ecology: Attracts butterflies and birds; water-holding rosettes support aquatic insects and microfauna
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun to part shade; best color in full sun
Watering: Moderate; water collects in leaf cups
Soil: Moist, well-drained; loose mix with bark chips preferred
Temperature: Sensitive below 30°F (–1°C); protect from frost
Humidity: High tolerance; thrives in tropical humidity
Propagation: Division of pups; plants decline after flowering but regenerate from offsets
Tolerance: Heat, drought, poor soils; low salt tolerance
 
Landscape Use Ideal for tropical borders, specimen plantings, and mass displays. Use in front of green-foliaged shrubs or in containers for dramatic color. Pairs well with Cordyline fruticosa, Alcantarea imperialis, and Russelia equisetiformis.