Blushing bromeliad
Neoregelia carolinae
Also called Neoregelia, Heart of flame and Crimson cup
Houseplant · Patterned foliageWater into the CUP at the centre, not the compost, and tip it out and refill it every few weeks or it sours. The red heart means it is about to flower, and after that the parent slowly dies while its offsets take over.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Once a weekDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Bright indirect, with some direct sun
- Feed
- Every 90 days
- Humidity
- Average to high
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
- Size
- 0.3 m tall · 0.4 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Eastern Brazil
Is it safe for pets and people?
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
ASPCA lists this plant by this exact name — "Blushing Bromeliad" — under "Neoregalia spp.", their spelling of Neoregelia, written at genus level. Non-toxic.
Checked against ASPCA on 2026-09-22.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- The water standing in the centre smells and has gone cloudy, and the innermost leaves are soft where they meet it. Tip the cup out and refill it — this one is caused by never emptying it, not by anything living.Sour cup · disorder
- Small flat brown discs along the undersides of the outer straps, scraping off with a thumbnail and leaving a pale mark.Scale insect · pest