Queen’s Tears Bromeliad (Billbergia nutans)

Billbergia nutans, or Queen’s-tears is a fast grower and ranks on the beginner scale when it comes to raising. I know there are many other beautiful bromeliads out there, but this was the one that started off our plant journey and is still our favorite. The have a beautiful show a few times annually of cascading pink blooms with fascinating flowers. This bromeliad is native to South America from Brasil through Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. They put on their best show if they are mounted up on a wall or in a hanging basket so they can show off their blooms.

What you need to know about growing Queen’s Tears

Care Level: Beginner

Growth Rate: Fast. This species will take over its container quickly and is okay with being rootbound.

Light: Partial shade to full sun. They tend to be paler in color if in too much high sun. We grow in indirect sun.

Watering: Bromeliads like well drained soil since their cups provide most of the water the plant needs.

Soil: Like most Bromeliads, they enjoy a rich airy soil with some moss and bark as the main components.

Blooms: Queen’s Tears can bloom sporadically throughout the year with a nice spring and fall flush of pink cascading blooms.

Pest: Though not a common problem, scales can be a problem if the plant stays too dry and becomes weak. You’ll actually see the pale blemishes usually before you see the little buggers. Neem oil. dish soap and a little rubbing alcohol does the trick but must be supplied weekly until they are gone.

Here’s a reel on our Facebook page with some more information. (Here)

Wiki info.

My Queen’s Tears Bromeliad story.

Many years back I was doing a construction project for a customer and she has a large 3′ x 3′ square of these growing on the ground. They belonged to her late husband and she always remembered him when she saw them. The blooms were not so obvious on the ground but you could see splashes of pink. Once I saw the way the blooms fell out, I build a wall planter up on her fence so they could cascade over the edges. As soon as she walked out and saw the surprise, she was filled with so many tears of joy. She then offered me a few and that’s how my collection started.