Aechmea lamarchei

This is a large growing bromeliad that is great for landscaping.  Aechmea lamarchei grows about 3 foot tall and 4 foot wide. They tend to sprawl as they grow rather than remain an upright rosette of leaves, so give them plenty of room. Their wandering habit makes them difficult to keep confined in a pot. They nearly always grow off to one side, eventually tipping the pot and continuing to grow across the ground.

Individual plants stay in bloom for about 3 to 4 weeks, with large clumps having the bloom period spread out over a slightly longer amount of time. I have had plants bloom in spring, summer and fall, but usually several plants will come into bloom at the same time, making for a nice mass display.

Like many bromeliads, the foliage on this species changes color depending on how much light it is in.

The best color seems to be in light shade or filtered sun where it develops a light purplish-olive tint. 

In more sun, the color gets bleached out to a plain green.

They can take temperatures in the upper 20° F range without damage as long as frost doesn't settle on the leaves.

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