Guzmania musaica

Common Names

Mosaic Vase, Mosaikjuvelblomma

Summary

Guzmania musaica is a tropical epiphytic bromeliad native to Central America (Costa Rica, Panama) and western South America (Colombia, Ecuador), commonly cultivated as an ornamental plant. It forms a bushy rosette up to about 50 cm tall with strap-shaped, light-green leaves boldly banded with darker cross stripes; leaf surfaces may vary to dark green or brown on the upper side and purple on the reverse depending on variety, giving a mosaic-like appearance. A central water-holding cup accompanies a showy inflorescence consisting of red and yellow bracts with waxy yellow flowers on a 40 cm flowering spike, emerging at the heart of the rosette; the plant is evergreen, monocarpic, and non-toxic.

In cultivation, it prefers bright filtered light to shade and constantly moist, well-drained orchid-style potting mix or mounting as an epiphyte; the central cup should be kept filled and overflow allowed to reach the root zone. Propagation is via offsets; typical care includes misting foliage with non-calcareous water to improve humidity and reduce mites, and feeding during growth with a flowering-plant fertilizer plus a foliar bromeliad fertilizer while avoiding over-fertilization. It tolerates heat and humidity, is hardy in USDA zones 10a–12b, and suits indoor displays, pots, hanging baskets, or shaded outdoor settings; it is non-toxic for horses, dogs, and cats.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1.5-2.5 feet

Spread

1-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 10a-12b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Type

No soil type

Soil Drainage

Constantly moist, well-drained soil

Soil pH

Mildly acidic to mildly alkaline

Bloom Color

Yellow, Orange, White

Bloom Time

Summer (June to August)

Foliage Color

Light-green foliage with dark-green stripes

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow to average growth

Seasons of Interest

Summer

Propagation Methods

Offsets