Bromelia balansae

Bromelia balansae is an evergreen perennial in the bromeliad family, Bromeliaceae. The RHS lists its common name as heart of flame. It comes from tropical South America, where Kew records a wet tropical climate. Useful Tropical Plants lists Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, and Colombia within its range. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. The supplied sources do not describe its precise wild habitat.

The plant has no main stem above ground. Its long leaves spread outward from a central rosette. Each leaf can reach about 3.3 feet [1 metre] long. The database gives a general height of 4.9 feet [1.5 metres]. Plants in flower may reach 6.6 feet [2 metres]. These figures distinguish the listed plant height from its flowering height. Underground stolons allow it to spread and form dense colonies. Its evergreen leaves and clustered growth define much of its form. The evidence gives no mature width for a single rosette.

This species can grow in full sun or shade. The sources do not identify one light level as best. Frost limits its use in cold gardens. Leaves can suffer damage at about 28°F [−2°C]. That figure describes leaf injury, not a proven minimum survival temperature. The evidence gives no USDA or UK hardiness rating. It also gives no soil, feeding, or watering guidance. Gardeners can raise plants from seed or divide the suckers. The sources give no flowering season or detailed flower description. They show fruiting stems but provide no written fruit details.

People gather this plant from the wild for leaf fibre. Local use is the main purpose reported for the harvest. The fibre feels soft and has a silky texture. It has medium strength and resembles fibre from pineapple leaves. Reported fibre lengths run from 3.9–5.9 feet [1.2–1.8 metres]. People use it to make basic rope and sacks. The evidence supports a useful fibre role rather than a food crop. It records no known food or medicinal uses.

Useful Tropical Plants reports no known hazards for this species. That does not establish safety for people or pets. The supplied evidence names no pests or diseases. Its colony-forming habit shows that it can spread through underground growth. It does not, by itself, establish invasive or weedy behaviour.