Grows well in full coastal sun to light shade in loose, well-draining soil. Can grow in denser shade but at the expense of flowering. It has proven hardy in cultivation to short duration temperatures down to at least 20 degrees F. Best not to plant near walkways as it has wickedly spiny foliage. This also makes it a difficult plant to weed around, but it makes a an excellent low barrier plant that is showy and even racoons and deer do not cross its path.

Aechmea distichantha occurs as a terrestrial, saxicolous (on rocks) or epiphytic plant in deciduous, semideciduous and evergreen forests in southern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina where it can be found from sea level up to nearly 8,000 feet in elevation. The name for the genus comes from the Greek word 'aichme' meaning "spearhead" or "a point" in reference to thorny tips on the sepals and bracts and the specific epithet from the Greek words 'distichos' meaning two-ranked and 'anthos' meaning flower in reference to the flowers being in two rows. 

Information displayed on this page about Aechmea distichantha is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.