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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Bromelia pinguin is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Agallostachys fastuosa (Lindl.) Beer Agallostachys pinguin (L.) Beer Ananas pinguin (L.) Gaertn. Bromelia fastuosa Lindl. Bromelia ignea Beer Bromelia sepiaria Schult. & Schult.f. Karatas pinguin (L.) Mill.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Fruit Shoots
Edible Uses: Drink

The fruits are edible but very acid[331 ]. The fruit is intensely sour and acrid, it is sometimes used for making vinegar[331 ]. It makes an excellent, refreshing drink[301 ]. The young shoots at the base of the plant can be eaten raw or cooked[301 ]. They are much used as food in all the dryer regions of Guatemala[331 ]. They can be had when ordinary vegetables are scarce or unobtainable, as at the end of the dry season[331 ]. The inflorescence is fried and eaten[301 ]. In El Salvador, it is used to make gruel.

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fencing Fibre Hedge String

Much planted for hedges and fences in central America and the West Indies[331 , 454 ]. Other Uses: A fibre obtained from the leaves has been used locally for cordage, ropes etc[454 ]. Rather weak[454 ]. It is stripped of its pulp, soaked in water, and beaten with a wooden mallet to yield the fiber.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming Food Forest Hedge

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Agroforestry Services: Living fence Industrial Crop: Fiber Management: Standard Regional Crop

Succeeds in poorer soils[454 ].

Carbon Farming

Agroforestry Services: Living fence Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.
Industrial Crop: Fiber Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
Management: Standard Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
Regional Crop These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Barbed-wire fence, Corazon de Fuego, Mayam Pinguin, Pinuela, Viru, Wild pineapple

Native Range

Coming Soon

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Aechmea magdalenae	Pingwing. Ixtle, Pita plant	Perennial	2.5	10-12	S	LMH	FS	M	3	0	3
Ananas comosus	Pineapple	Perennial	1.0	9-11	F	LMH	SN	M	5	2	4
Bromelia karatas	Ananas pingouin, Karatas, Camburito	Perennial	3.0	10-12	F	LMH	N	M	3	2	3
Bromelia serra	Bayonet bromeliad	Perennial	0.4	10-12	F	LMH	FSN	M	1	0	3
Greigia sphacelata		Perennial	0.9	9-11		LMH	SN	M	1	0
Puya chilensis		Perennial	2.0	8-11		LMH	N	D	1	0	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Bromelia pinguin - L.