Dyckia Species

Dyckia is a Bromeliad genus with over 100 species and dozens of hybrid cultivars of succulent evergreen terrestrial Bromeliads. They are in the family Pitcairniodeae along with Hechtia, Deuterocohnia, Pitcairnia and Puya.

Native mostly to Brazil, but also found in Argentina, Parauay and Uragray they grow in the more arid rocky regions and often high altitudes. All but one, D. estevesii, grow in rosette formation and range in size from a few inches to several feet wide. Some form a huge rosette and others such as D. rariflora form thick mats like a groundcover. Most Dyckia have stiff pointed leaves with spiny margins along the leaf edges although there are exceptions such as D. 'Nude Lady'. The 'teeth' along the leaf edge can be short, long, curved, and sharp. Care is needed when handling as they bite! Coloration can be anywhere from lime green to red so deep it appears black, but dark green, reddish, orange, silver or combinations thereof are the norm.

Most Dyckia produce offsets called pups and eventually form large clusters. Unlike other Bromeliads, Guzmania, Aechmea, Noregelia, Vriesia, etc., Dyckia do not die after blooming. In spring and summer they produce tall thick stems with many flowers which range from canary yellow, orange to dark red.

Plant your Dyckia in well draining but humus rich gritty soil. A mix of potting soil with hardwood bark, volcanic rock, stones, perlite, sand, etc, are all suitable. Water moderately from spring to autumn and keep dry in the winter. You can fertilize them once a month with a half strength fertilizer if needed. Dyckia can be grown inside or outside and look great in a container or hanging basket on a sunny patio. Dyckia can be grown as house plants if placed in a sunny or well lit position and do not require the humidity as many other Bromeliads. Dyckia do well in dry areas such as a rock or cactus garden. If you live in a wet rainy place Dyckia will still do very well in pots that drain quickly. Outside give from half day to full sun to achieve the spectacular coloration of the leaves. Many Dyckia are frost tolerant to about 30 degrees F and some can take down into the teens.

Unless otherwise stated plants will be offsets of the plants in the photo, in 4" pots, shipped bare-root.