Nidularium is a perennial plant that belongs in the bromeliaceae family of plants. It is endemic, which means that it is only seen in one specific area, which in this case is Brazil. Many gardeners use this plant as ground cover, but in arid and dry areas it can add color to a garden. The nidularium can also be placed in a pot and grown indoors. This plant has evergreen foliage and slightly resembles a flowering cactus plant.
The leaves from the nidularium plant grow out of a cluster. They are longer draping leaves with several individual leaflets. These leaflets have a unique star shape and they are either a bright green color or they can also have a splash of red on the leaves toward the center of the plant. Nidularium leaves can have several pointy sharp edges that extend from the sides of the leaves. Leaflets are very sturdy and have a glossy look and feel.
Another interesting feature of the nidularium plant is the flower that is produces. One single bloom appears in the center of the leaf cluster and it is also very glossy. There are many petals that make up the flower and as they mature they drape downward the same way the leaves do. The petals also have pointy edges similar to the leaves. These flowers can be seen in either a white to off-white color or a brighter red.
The nidularium plant only grows to reach six inches (around 15cm). It does have a tendency to take up twice as much space because of the length of the leaves. Each individual nidularium plant should be spaced at least 12 to 16 inches (around 30cm) apart, to avoid completion for water and nutrients.
This plant is a tender tropical plant, which means that it cannot handle cooler climates. It will not survive in areas where the temperature goes below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (around four Celsius). These types of plants are typically drought tolerant and can thrive even in the driest conditions. Over watering can damage the root system of this plant.
Nidularium is commonly used for the unique look of the leaves because it may take many years to produce a bloom. It is a monocarpic type of plant, which means that it can take up to 50 years to produce one single flower. This also means that they plant will most probably die shortly after the flower blooms.
