Mysterious Rare-Red Aechmea Blanchetiana

    In September of 2007 I was the keynote speaker at the Australian Bromeliad Conference in Port Macquire, NSW Australia.  During one of my presentations I showed slides of the very dark red form of Aechmea blanchetiana, that I had been growing from offset for several years.  This started several internet discussions about the true “Red” blanchetiana and whether or not it was the same as the dark orange ones in cultivation.  It definitely is red and not the typical orange, or orange-red color. 

    Recently, I came across the note that arrived with the original plant.  It came from John Anderson in July of 2000.  John frequently would share plants that he felt I could grow and color in my cooler climate, better than in his.  That was the case with the "Red" Aechmea blanchetiana.  His note:

“This red leaf form of Ae. blanchetiana comes from 

a small population around Puerto Seguro, Bahia Brazil. 

It wont be around long because the locals have found it

and are using it to line driveways, etc. 

Wally and I got two but it pups pretty good. 

It will be outstanding for you all.” 

                       John Anderson

   I propagated this plant from offsets, which grew slower for me than John, as a my pacific climate is cooler than Corpus Christi, Texas.  Some were planted in the landscape, with filtered light and these produced a beautiful dark red color and became outstanding, just as John had predicted in his note.   They were reluctant to bloom, so I  distributed a few offsets to Lynn Hudson in Cairns, Australia.  With her great climate she was able to propagate many plants and bring them to bloom.  In exchange, I was provide seed.  We have been growing the seedlings for several years, and can now offer plants for sale.

    Searching the BSI Cultivar Register I discovered that John Anderson had registered this clone, from the same locality, as Aechmea ‘Wally Berg’, dedicated to his traveling companion on the expedition.  Therefore, I am confident that my mysterious Red Aechmea blanchetiana is also Aechmea ‘Wally Berg’, and if anyone has acquired any of these plants which came from Bird Rock Tropicals (our ID#-A268)or Lynn Hudson, they too should carry the same name as they originated from the same stock.  They prefer dappled shade as opposed to full sun which along with high temperatures will bleach the foliage.