A terrestrial bromeliad producing rosettes of long, narrow, very stiff leaves with spiny margins and covered in felty, greyish hairs. Mature rosettes produce upright, branched, pink-flushed flower stems with sparse, very dark blue, bell-shaped flowers with pink flushed calyces
0.5-1 metres
0.5-1 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Under glass grow in terrestrial bromeliad compost in full light. Water moderately when in active growth in mid-spring to late summer and apply a low nitrogen fertiliser every 6-8 weeks. Plants will tolerate temperatures below 0°C for brief periods if acclimatised to cool winter conditions. In warm, sheltered gardens grow plants outdoors in a sunny spot in sharply draining soil and protect from winter wet. See bromeliad cultivation
Propagate by seed at 19-24°C as soon as ripe, or by division
No pruning required
May be susceptible to scale insects
Susceptible to root rots in wet soils