A cultivar of (chlorosticta x ‘Sunrise’) by Shane Zaghini. A smallish plant to about ten inches across in an upright, vase shaped rosette. The inch and a half wide leaves are dark purple marbled with bright green. A nice Aussie hybrid.

A neat miniature, stoloniferous, clumping species that matures at less than 6 inches tall. Its gracefully curving, slightly speckled leaves form a bulbous base and a 10 inch flower spike with light red, white tipped bracts. Discovered near Parati in Rio de Janeiro state of Brazil and described in 1980, it is a native of low, wet rainforest where it grows as an epiphyte. An easy to grow yet rare collector item. Superior for terrariums.

A cross of two colorful, stoloniferous miniatures. Forming somewhat upright, bulbous based rosettes to for inches or so on stolons 3 to 4 inches long. The color can range from bronzy with tiny pepper spots and some barring of red to solid reddish with the spots nearly obscured. Good for mounting, hanging pots or terrariums.

As you may be aware, Fireball is actually an undescribed species that has never been re-collected in the wild. This plant is apparently the same, except that it has green leaves. The size, shape and stoloniferous habit are the same, but the plant only flushes red in the center at anthesis. A very decorative plant when blooming and nice for basket culture or a terrarium anytime.

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.

A choice form that should be registered. (Maybe we will). Depending on how it’s grown, can be very ampoule-shaped with short leaves or a little more open in a vase shape. Green with dark reddish brown banding, stronger on the undersides of the leaf. Grows on short stolons, forming attractive clumps and perfect for mounting or for decorative containers or baskets.

One of Chester Skotak’s ‘creations’. He crossed ‘Hannibal Lecter’ with ‘Tiger Cub’ and got another ‘killer’ plant! (Pun intended) Deep-green leaves are glossy-green, thick and leathery, marked with blackish bars and banding on the upper and lower sides. The leaf margins are heavily armed with large black spines. A medium grower to about 18 inches in a loose rosette.

A beautiful plant that Tropiflora helped introduce to cultivation. Native to the same mountainous region of central Colombia which produces ospinae and chrysostachys, there is absolutely nothing that compares to this plant. The foliage is very tough and is various shades of green, with brown and black reticulations, mottling and markings. The effect is almost like that of a ‘Silk’ plant so unique is the pattern. Does not much resemble typical ospinae, the plants are bigger, fuller with wider leaves and do not pup as much as the typical form. The inflorescence is yellow and well branched. Thrives in normal bromeliad mix or even bare root.

An exceptional cultivar of this species with leaves bearing intense silver banding over deep green. The narrow banding covers both sides of the leaves and is much brighter than in most other clones. A rare and desirable collector’s item.

An unusual and pretty Brazilian species with a compact, somewhat bulbous base, upright leaves and a lovely red and white spike. This species is stoloniferous and grows well mounted as well as potted. Good in terrariums

(Puya tuberosa (Baker clone) x Encholirium species #1 from Rudolph Schulz (Ray Lemieux), Spineless silvery foliage with a branching burgundy inflorescence.  A nice choice for a full-sun spot in your landscape.

*Leaf tips will be trimmed

A most unusual looking bromeliad, native to most of tropical South America where it grows as an epiphyte. A clustering plant about 30 inches tall (can reach 48 inches!) with whip-like leaves and a bulbous base about an inch in diameter. The habit is erect and slightly arching, forming a tassel-like cluster. The leaf color is reddish, growing deeper red in bright light.

The inflorescence is a short panicle of berries that forms low in the foliage and hangs out to the side. A clump in bloom is an attractive sight. An oddity for sure, but has great appeal as a pot or basket plant and belongs in every bromeliad collection.