An interesting little shrub-like, caudiciform tree from Oaxaca, Mexico with a thickly swollen trunk and tan to reddish peeling bark. The dense branches have small obovate, deciduous leaves and bear tiny, aromatic fruits. Great for bonsai work. The leaves may turn bright colors if exposed to cool temps in the fall of the year.

Jim Irvin has a knack with Cryptanthus, (as well as other bromeliads!), and has produced numerous first-class hybrids.  This is one of which he can be proud.  This hybrid, a cultivar of ‘Sweet Tooth’ x ‘Ice Age,’ and a grex mate to ‘Very Cold Tooth,’ is a dark brown, almost black plant with closely spaced cross banding of silver trichomes with dense silver white scurf underneath.  The inch-wide leaves are long and graceful, undulating at the margins in a symmetrical rosette.

*VIPP plants are Offsets

This Jim Irvin hybrid is one of three cultivars of ‘Diverse Pink’ x sinuosus ‘Cascade,’ the others being ‘Roman Candle’ and ‘Strawberries Flambe,’ having 15+ lanceolate leaves forming a medium-large plant with a full round shape to 18″ in diameter.  The medium narrow leaves in bright green flushed with orange-red along the margins at maturity are so shiny as to appear polished.  The undersides of the leaves are covered in a light lineated white scurf.

*VIPP plants are Offsets

A Carole Richtmyer hybrid, a cultivar of 'Earth Angel' x bromelioides 'Red form,' having 18+ lanceolate leaves maturing to a full round form 12-inches in diameter.  The dark and lime green mottled leaves are covered in a very light lineated scurf as the red leaf base clasp the stem.  In stronger light, the leaves will take on colors of orange and red, besides the greens.  Light well defined lines of trichomes cover the undersides of the leaves.

*VIPP plants are small Offsets

An African bulb which is also called the Giant Squill is from tropical and dry southern Africa. Nice fat bulbs showing above ground bear whorls of lanceolate leaves bearing many dark spots. The flowers are white, bell shaped and clustered, borne on a long scape. Good for landscape in zone 10 and above but makes a nice pot plant or terrarium plant too.

A hybrid of Dyckia 'Mercury' f2 originating at Michael's Bromeliads. A large growing plant of burgundy green leaves that develop a silver scurf as the plant grows larger. The rosette is flat measuring to 18 inches when mature. The leaves are wide with large spines. Grows best in bright light or full sun. A grex mate of Dyckia 'Battle Axe' 

A hybrid from Bill Baker. Compact growth from of glossy burgundy leaves that are recurved. Has distinct white marginal spines. The rosette is up to 8 inches across at maturity. Grows best in full sun.

This stunning large cross of Dyckia platyphylla x ‘Carlsbad‘ has many spiny arching leaves in a rosette to well over 18 inches. One of the most colorful of Dyckia hybrids, it has reddish/brown leaves in full sun or a deep burgundy color in lower light.

One of Bill Baker’s amazing crosses named posthumously by Chris Nguyen, a cultivar of (Arizona x Brittle Star) x Brittle Star. I suppose the name is appropriate, a heavenly looking plant with hellish spines, but I don’t know if that is what Chris had in mind. The plant is very full with many triangular leaves about 5 or 6 inches long, dark blackish brown with large, triangular, slightly curving white spines. A stunning plant in every way. Mature size is about 12 inches across. Full sun brings out blackish coloration, with less sun it will show more white scurf.

*Please note- some leaf tips will be trimmed

The plant is very full with many triangular recurving leaves about 5 or 6 inches long. Green brown with large, triangular, slightly curving white spines. A white scurf covers the leaves.  Mature size is about 12 inches across. Full sun brings out the brown coloration and enhances the white scurf.