---
title: "Guzmania: classification, 217 accepted species, the bromeliad’s leaf cup and bracts, pot-plant care | Floreboard"
url: https://floreboard.com/en/plants/guzmania/
language: en
last_reviewed: 2026-10-28
publisher: Floreboard
---

Curtis's Botanical Magazine · 5220 · 1860 · Walter Hood Fitch · public domain

# Guzmania Ruiz & Pav.

guzmanias · Bromeliaceae

- **Accepted name:** Guzmania Ruiz & Pav.
- **First published:** Fl. Peruv. 3: 37 (1802)
- **Family:** Bromeliaceae
- **Accepted species:** 217 (including 2 natural hybrids)
- **Native range:** 32 TDWG regions, Florida to tropical America
- **Common names:** guzmanias
- **Databases:** [POWO](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:326846-2) · [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/n/326846-2) · [WCVP](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/2232/taxon/247418) · [Catalogue of Life](https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/8VXZW) · [GBIF](https://www.gbif.org/species/2698853)

## Overview

Guzmania belongs to the bromeliad family, Bromeliaceae; Kew gives its native range as Florida to tropical America, and WCVP accepts more than two hundred species, listed below. University of Florida IFAS describes guzmanias as common houseplants with smooth green leaves and showy flower spikes, some of which can be grown outdoors in frost-free areas.

The scarlet star of the pot-plant trade is mainly G. lingulata and its hybrids. Kew records it as native to south-eastern Mexico to tropical America, a perennial or epiphyte growing chiefly in the wet tropics.

## Classification and characters

WCVP cites Ruiz and Pavón’s Flora Peruviana et Chilensis vol. 3 (1802) as the place of publication and sinks Massangea, Schlumbergeria, Sodiroa and Thecophyllum, among others, as synonyms.

University of Florida IFAS explains two bromeliad traits. Epiphytes are not parasites: they use trees only for support and make their own energy. And bromeliads take in water and nutrients mainly through their leaves and the cups formed by their leaf bases. Light changes leaf colour, shape and growth rate: too little gives long, thin, greener leaves, and too much gives shorter, thicker, paler ones. Flower spikes last from a few weeks to as long as six months in some genera.

| Genus name | Published in |
| --- | --- |
| Chirripoa Suess. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 72: 293 (1942) |
| Devillea Bertero ex Schult. & Schult.f. | J.J.Roemer & J.A.Schultes, Syst. Veg., ed. 15[bis]. 7: 1229 (1830) |
| Massangea É.Morren | Ann. Bot. Hort. 27: 59 (1877) |
| Schlumbergeria É.Morren | Ann. Bot. Hort. 28: 311 (1878) |
| Sodiroa Andrews | Bull. Soc. Bot. France 24: 167 (1877) |
| Thecophyllum André | Bromel. Andr.: 107 (1889) |

## Distribution

WCVP records the genus as native to 32 TDWG botanical regions and introduced in 1 more.

BahamasBelizeBoliviaBrazil NorthBrazil NortheastBrazil West-CentralCentral American Pacific Is.ColombiaCosta RicaCubaDominican RepublicEcuadorFloridaFrench GuianaGuatemalaGuyanaHaitiHondurasJamaicaLeeward Is.Mexico GulfMexico SoutheastMexico SouthwestNicaraguaPanamáPeruPuerto RicoSurinameTrinidad-TobagoVenezuelaVenezuelan AntillesWindward Is.

### Introduced

Bermuda

## Accepted species

WCVP accepts 217 species; names with × are natural hybrids. The count changes with revisions; checked 2026-10-28.

Show all 217 accepted species

| Name | On this site |
| --- | --- |
| Guzmania acorifolia (Griseb.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania acuminata L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania acutispica E.Gross |   |
| Guzmania adscendens H.Luther & K.F.Norton |   |
| Guzmania aequatorialis L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania albescens H.Luther & Determann |   |
| Guzmania alborosea H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania alcantareoides H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania alliodora E.Gross |   |
| Guzmania altomayoensis Gouda |   |
| Guzmania altsonii L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania × amoena H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania amplectens L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania anae Wisnev |   |
| Guzmania andreana (É.Morren) Mez |   |
| Guzmania andreettae Rauh |   |
| Guzmania angustifolia (Baker) Wittm. |   |
| Guzmania apiculata L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania armeniaca H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania asplundii L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania atrocastanea H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania attenuata L.B.Sm. & Read |   |
| Guzmania bakeri (Wittm.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania bergii H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania berteroniana (Schult. & Schult.f.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania besseae H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania betancurii H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania bicolor L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania bipartita L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania blassii Rauh |   |
| Guzmania brackeana Manzan. |   |
| Guzmania bracteosa (André) André ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania brasiliensis Ule |   |
| Guzmania breviscapa H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania brevispatha Mez |   |
| Guzmania butcheri Rauh |   |
| Guzmania cabrerae Gilmartin |   |
| Guzmania calamifolia André ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania calothyrsa Mez |   |
| Guzmania candelabrum (André) André ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania caricifolia (André) L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania cerrohoyaensis H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania cinnabarina H.Luther & K.F.Norton |   |
| Guzmania circinnata Rauh |   |
| Guzmania claviformis H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania compacta Mez |   |
| Guzmania condensata Mez & Wercklé |   |
| Guzmania condorensis H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania confinis L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania confusa L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania conglomerata H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania conifera (André) André ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania coriostachya (Griseb.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania corniculata H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania cuatrecasasii L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania cundinamarcae Gouda |   |
| Guzmania cuzcoensis L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania cylindrica L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania dalstroemii H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania danielii L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania darienensis H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania delicatula L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania densiflora Mez |   |
| Guzmania densispica Gouda & Manzan. |   |
| Guzmania desautelsii Read & L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania devansayana É.Morren |   |
| Guzmania diazii H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania diffusa L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania dissitiflora (André) L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania donnellsmithii Mez ex Donn.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania dudleyi L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania dussii Mez |   |
| Guzmania ecuadorensis Gilmartin |   |
| Guzmania eduardi André ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania ekmanii (Harms) Harms ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania elvallensis H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania erythrolepis Brongn. ex Planch. |   |
| Guzmania farciminiformis H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania fawcettii Mez |   |
| Guzmania ferruginea H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania filicaulis Gouda |   |
| Guzmania filiorum L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania flagellata S.Pierce & J.R.Grant |   |
| Guzmania foetida Rauh |   |
| Guzmania formosa H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania fosteriana L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania fuerstenbergiana (K.E.Kirchhoff & Wittm.) Wittm. |   |
| Guzmania fuquae H.Luther & Determann |   |
| Guzmania garciaensis Rauh |   |
| Guzmania glaucophylla Rauh |   |
| Guzmania globosa L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania glomerata Mez & Wercklé |   |
| Guzmania gloriosa (André) André ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania goudotiana Mez |   |
| Guzmania gracilior (André) Mez |   |
| Guzmania gracilis H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania graminifolia (André ex Baker) L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania harlingii H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania hedychioides L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania henniae H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania herrerae H.Luther & W.J.Kress |   |
| Guzmania hirtzii H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania hitchcockiana L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania hollinensis H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania inexpectata H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania inkaterrae Gouda & C.Soto |   |
| Guzmania izkoi Manzan. & W.Till |   |
| Guzmania jaramilloi H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania kalbreyeri (Baker) L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania kareniae H.Luther & K.F.Norton |   |
| Guzmania kentii H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania killipiana L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania kraenzliniana Wittm. |   |
| Guzmania laeta H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania lehmanniana (Wittm.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania lemeana Manzan. |   |
| Guzmania leonard-kentiana H.Luther & K.F.Norton |   |
| Guzmania lepidota (André) André ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania lindenii (André) Mez |   |
| Guzmania lingulata (L.) Mez | 1 plate |
| Guzmania × litaensis H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania loeflingiana Vivas & B.Holst |   |
| Guzmania longibracteata Betancur & N.R.Salinas |   |
| Guzmania longipetala (Baker) Mez |   |
| Guzmania loraxiana J.R.Grant |   |
| Guzmania lychnis L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania macropoda L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania madisonii H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania manzanaresiorum H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania marantoidea (Rusby) H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania megastachya (Baker) Mez |   |
| Guzmania melinonis Regel |   |
| Guzmania membranacea L.B.Sm. & Steyerm. |   |
| Guzmania mitis L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania monostachia (L.) Rusby ex Mez | 2 plates |
| Guzmania morreniana (É.Morren) Mez |   |
| Guzmania mosquerae (Wittm.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania mucronata (Griseb.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania multiflora (André) André ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania musaica (Linden & André) Mez |   |
| Guzmania nangaritzae H.Luther & K.F.Norton |   |
| Guzmania nicaraguensis Mez & C.F.Baker |   |
| Guzmania nidularioides L.B.Sm. & Read |   |
| Guzmania nubicola L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania nubigena L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania oligantha Lozano |   |
| Guzmania osyana (É.Morren) Mez |   |
| Guzmania pallida L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania palustris (Wittm.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania panamensis Cáceres Gonz. |   |
| Guzmania paniculata Mez |   |
| Guzmania pattersoniae Manzan. |   |
| Guzmania patula Mez & Wercklé |   |
| Guzmania pearcei (Baker) L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania pennellii L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania peter-bakii Manzan., Gouda & W.Till |   |
| Guzmania plicatifolia L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania plumieri (Griseb.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania polycephala Mez & Wercklé |   |
| Guzmania poortmanii (André) André ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania pseudodissitiflora H.Luther & K.F.Norton |   |
| Guzmania pseudospectabilis H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania pungens L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania puyoensis Rauh |   |
| Guzmania radiata L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania rauhiana H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania regalis H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania remediosensis E.Gross |   |
| Guzmania remyi L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania retusa L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania rhonhofiana Harms |   |
| Guzmania roezlii (É.Morren) Mez |   |
| Guzmania roseiflora Rauh |   |
| Guzmania rubrolutea Rauh |   |
| Guzmania rugosa L.B.Sm. & Read |   |
| Guzmania sanguinea (André) André ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania sanluisensis Rojas-Fern. & Marcelo-Peña |   |
| Guzmania scandens H.Luther & W.J.Kress |   |
| Guzmania scherzeriana Mez |   |
| Guzmania septata L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania sibundoyorum L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania sieffiana H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania skotakii H.Luther |   |
| Guzmania sphaeroidea (André) André ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania sprucei (André) L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania squarrosa (Mez & Sodiro) L.B.Sm. & Pittendr. |   |
| Guzmania stenostachya L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania steyermarkii L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania straminea (K.Koch) Mez |   |
| Guzmania striata L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania stricta L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania strobilantha (Ruiz & Pav.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania subcorymbosa L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania tarapotina Ule |   |
| Guzmania tenuifolia (H.Luther) Betancur & N.R.Salinas |   |
| Guzmania terrestris L.B.Sm. & Steyerm. |   |
| Guzmania testudinis L.B.Sm. & Read |   |
| Guzmania teucamae H.Luther & K.F.Norton |   |
| Guzmania teuscheri L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania triangularis L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania undulatobracteata (Rauh) Rauh |   |
| Guzmania vanvolxemii (André) André ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania variegata L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania ventricosa (Griseb.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania verecunda L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania victoriae Rauh |   |
| Guzmania vinacea H.Luther & K.F.Norton |   |
| Guzmania virescens (Hook.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania viridiflora E.Gross |   |
| Guzmania vittata (Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania vonbismarckii Gouda |   |
| Guzmania weberbaueri Mez |   |
| Guzmania wittmackii (André) André ex Mez |   |
| Guzmania xanthobractea Gilmartin |   |
| Guzmania xipholepis L.B.Sm. |   |
| Guzmania zahnii (Hook.f.) Mez |   |
| Guzmania zakii H.Luther |   |

## Historic plates

Plates in date order; the printed names are kept as they appear, current names are on the species pages and the topic page.

- [](https://floreboard.com/plants/plates/plantarum-icones-guzmania-lingulata.jpg)Tillandsia lingulataPlantarum indigenarum et exoticarum icones ad vivum coloratae · 1789,
- [](https://floreboard.com/plants/plates/exotic-flora-163x.jpg)Gusmannia tricolorExotic Flora · 163* · 1827,
- [](https://floreboard.com/plants/plates/bm-5220.jpg)Guzmannia tricolorCurtis's Botanical Magazine · 5220 · 1860, Walter Hood Fitch

## Care and safety

University of Florida IFAS warns that some mosquitoes breed in bromeliad cups; flushing them regularly with fresh water keeps them free of larvae, or Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) products can be sprinkled in the cups.

The ASPCA has no entry for Guzmania itself; it lists the related blushing bromeliads, Neoregelia, as non-toxic to dogs and cats.

## Further reading

- [Reference library](https://floreboard.com/en/library/)

## References

- [WCVP · World Checklist of Vascular Plants (via ChecklistBank dataset 2232)](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/2232) · accessed 2026-10-28
- [Kew (POWO data on the ColPlanta site) · Guzmania native range](https://colplanta.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:326846-2/general-information)
- [Kew (POWO data on the ColPlanta site) · Guzmania lingulata native range and life form](https://colplanta.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:115161-2/general-information)
- [University of Florida IFAS Gardening Solutions · Bromeliads](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/bromeliads/)
- [ASPCA Animal Poison Control · Blushing Bromeliad (Neoregelia)](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/blushing-bromeliad)

Names, places of publication, synonyms and distribution checked against WCVP (2026-10-28); the text follows the cited sources and awaits specialist review.