The Houmas House gardens stretch an impressive 38 acres providing a year round blanket of colors and textures, offering a wide variety of plants and flowers.  Although the bright florals usually steal the show, next time you visit take note of the massive display of Bromeliads.  Houmas House boasts the largest selection of this flower in all of Louisiana.  Over 1000 new plants will take root in their new beds for the next 7 months. 

There are more than 2700 species of Bromeliads, but the most common to this region is the pineapple.  This fruit was commonly used in the Antebellum era as a sign of hospitality and as a fragrance throughout the home. When guests arrived to the plantation to stay for an extended period of time, a pineapple was placed in their room as a welcome and a natural air freshener.  If these guests had overstayed their welcome, a second pineapple was placed in their room as a hint that it was time to go.

As we dive into Spring and enjoy the longer days and warmer weather, take time to stop and admire the...Bromeliads.