This plant has become a superstar since its limited introduction a few years ago, finding a ready market at high prices at bromeliad conventions and shows. Now commonly used as a hardy landscape plant, it’s is a spectacular, large-growing plant with heavy reddish-brown bars across light green leaves. Large marginal spines line the wide, stiff leaves. A superior plant for hybridizing, Hannibal Lecter being an example.

It should be noted that this plant has no official botanical status. It was brought into cultivation by Chester Skotak after having found it in a Brazilian collection. Lacking a better description for now, it is being referred to as carcharodon cv. ‘Tiger’. The ‘real’ carcharodon is unknown and many not be in cultivation at all.

Neoregelia ‘Hannibal Lecter‘ An unusual, very decorative hybrid from Chester Skotak, with a name that reflects his famed, warped wit. Three clones exist, all selections of a grex resulting from the cross of Neo. punctatissima x carcharodon ‘Tiger’. In general, the plants are medium sized, to about 24 inches across, very stiff leaved with stout spines, and boldly banded with reddish-brown over green.

*VIPP plants are Offsets - NOT the mature plant in the photo