Queen’s tears (friendship plant) Billbergia nutans
Queen’s tears (friendship plant) (Billbergia nutans) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Bromeliaceae family, native to Southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina. It grows 30–50 cm (12–20 in) tall and 40–80 cm (16–31 in) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -3 °C (27 °F). Space plants about 40 cm (16 in) apart.
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Queen’s tears (friendship plant) at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Bromeliaceae |
| Mature height | 30–50 cm (12–20 in) |
| Mature spread | 40–80 cm (16–31 in) |
| Spacing | 40 cm (16 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 3 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -3 °C (27 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F) |
| Flowering | about 104–156 weeks after planting, for 3–6 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina |
| Common in gardens of | 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Is Queen’s tears (friendship plant) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not poisonous to cats or dogs.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Queen’s tears (friendship plant)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
Questions about Queen’s tears (friendship plant)
- How far apart should I plant Queen’s tears (friendship plant)?
- About 40 cm (16 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 40–80 cm (16–31 in).
- Does Queen’s tears (friendship plant) need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 3 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Queen’s tears (friendship plant) need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Queen’s tears (friendship plant)?
- It tolerates about -3 °C (27 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Queen’s tears (friendship plant) flower?
- About 104–156 weeks after planting, for 3–6 weeks.
- Is Queen’s tears (friendship plant) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not poisonous to cats or dogs.
- What grows well with Queen’s tears (friendship plant)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Queen’s tears (friendship plant). Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
Notes and assumptions
- Grassy clumps of narrow leaves and arching stems of pink bracts dangling green, blue-edged flowers that drip nectar, the “tears”. The toughest common bromeliad: it takes light frost and is passed between friends as offsets, hence its other name.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Pineapple Ananas comosus
- Urn plant (silver vase bromeliad) Aechmea fasciata
- Scarlet star bromeliad Guzmania lingulata
- Imperial bromeliad Alcantarea imperialis
- Chilean puya Puya chilensis
- Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides
- Air plant (blushing tillandsia) Tillandsia ionantha
- Blushing bromeliad Neoregelia carolinae