Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
LightBright, filtered light or partial shade, such as an east or…
WaterKeep about 2.5 cm (an inch) of fresh water in the central…
ToxicityNot ASPCA-listed
Mature size30 to 90 cm (12 to 36 in) tall and 30…
Urn Plant grows as a stiff rosette of broad, silver-banded green leaves that holds water in a central cup, shaped like a vase. After three to five years it pushes out a large pink flower head with small violet flowers, then the rosette dies and leaves pups behind.
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Care data checked 25 September 2026 · Dany · A-Z Plants
Light requirements
Bright, filtered light or partial shade, such as an east or west window with a sheer curtain. Two to six hours of indirect light a day keeps the silver banding strong.
Too much light: leaves wash out to pale yellow and the centre and leaf tips burn brown.
Too little light: growth slows, the silver banding fades to plain dark green, and the plant may never flower.
Watering
Keep about 2.5 cm (an inch) of fresh water in the central cup, emptying and refilling it once a month so insects do not breed in it, and water the mix when the top few centimetres are dry, less in winter. It is killed most often by overwatering the potting mix, which causes root rot, and by letting the mix dry out completely, which browns the leaf tips.
Soil
An orchid mix or bromeliad mix that drains fast, in a pot only slightly wider than the rosette. Its roots mainly hold the plant in place, so a heavy peat soil is the wrong choice and rots quickly.
Feeding
Balanced liquid fertiliser at quarter to half strength once a month in spring and summer, either into the mix or at very low strength into the cup. Stop feeding in winter.
Temperature & humidity
16 to 27 degrees C (60 to 80 degrees F), with nights near 16 degrees C (low 60s F) and days at 24 to 27 degrees C (75 to 80 degrees F). Humidity of 50 to 70 percent is ideal, and dry air browns the leaf tips, so use a pebble tray or group it with other plants.
What to expect
30 to 90 cm (12 to 36 in) tall and 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) wide, usually nearer 45 to 60 cm indoors. Growth is slow. Each rosette flowers once and then dies, leaving offsets that are best separated when they reach about 15 cm (6 in).
Varieties & cultivars
'Primera', broad green leaves with silver grey horizontal bands, the most widely sold clone.
'Purpurea', dark purple leaves with white banding.
'Variegated', blue-green leaves with a cream stripe down the centre.
Aechmea chantinii (Amazonian zebra plant), a close relative with much darker banding and upright orange bracts.
Urn Plant: questions
Is Urn Plant toxic to cats and dogs?
Not ASPCA-listed, so there is no safety ruling for this plant and it cannot be called pet safe on that basis. The ASPCA does list other bromeliads, including Neoregelia, Guzmania…
How much light does Urn Plant need?
Bright, filtered light or partial shade, such as an east or west window with a sheer curtain. Two to six hours of indirect light a day keeps the silver banding strong. - Too much light: leaves wash out to pale yellow and the centre and leaf tips burn brown. - Too little light: growth slows, the…
How often should I water Urn Plant?
Keep about 2.5 cm (an inch) of fresh water in the central cup, emptying and refilling it once a month so insects do not breed in it, and water the mix when the top few centimetres are dry, less in winter. It is killed most often by overwatering the potting mix, which causes root rot, and by letting…
How big does Urn Plant get?
Mature size indoors: 30 to 90 cm (12 to 36 in) tall and 30….
