A large growing Cryptanthus hybrid by Carole Richtmyer is a cultivar of (‘Nancy’ x ‘Peaches’) x argyrophyllus.  This Cryptanthus has 10+ very thick succulent lanceolate leaves forming a medium plant to 18″ in diameter with an open, rounded rosette shape.   This plant can attain larger sizes, over 24", in more shade.

The color of the leaves is pink to rosy pink changing to old gold or olive green with age and stronger light with dark grey edges and light scurf covering the entire leaf, both the face and back.  A exceptionally nice plant!

A Jim Irvin hybrid named for a longtime active bromeliad enthusiast of the Caloosahatchee Bromeliad Society of Fort Myers, Florida, a cultivar of ‘Icecile’ x ‘Black Mystic,’ has 14+ lanceolate leaves forming a medium-large plant 20″ in diameter with a strong oval form, deep forest green in color with banding the entire length and edge to edge with narrow silver bands set widely apart.  The undersides have heavy silver scurf.

Both parents of this Ray Lemieux cross of Hechtia lanata x myriantha have some interesting characteristics that should express themselves when the plants grow out. The seed parent, H. lanata, has broad, scurfy, twisting and curling leaves in habitat, which is a tropical desert environment on nutrient poor cliffs.

In cultivation, seedlings of this species tend to have straighter foliage, at least here in sea-level Florida. The pollen parent, H. myriantha, is a giant grower, perhaps the largest of all Hechtia species. Anecdotal stories report that this plant can reach the size of a VW Beetle! The intent of this cross was to produce a large growing hybrid with twisted foliage and silvery scurf. Only time will tell if that will happen.

A really spectacular Jim Irvin hybrid, any time we offer this Cryptanthus, we sell out immediately.  This cultivar of ‘Pink Brocade’ x ‘Kit Hilbers,’ and grex mate to ‘Rapunzel,’ ‘Rumpelstiltskin,’ and ‘Rusty Rose,’ has 12+ lanceolate, densely serrated leaves with a center ridge in cross-section.  It is medium-large to 22″ in an open oval shape with shades of mahogany, purple, and red overlaid with an edge to edge banding in white, becoming gold with age, and broader to the center.  The underneath is covered with dense white scurf.

A hybrid cultivar of Cryptanthus ‘Hapa Haole’ x ‘Elaine’ by Australian, David Cross.  A full rosette of leaves to about 18 inches across.  The leaves are banded with silver over a background color of dark brown to reddish-brown, with slightly wavy margins.

A pink flowering cultivar of Ray Lemieux’s (Encholirium horridum x Hechtia rosea (macdougallii) (spineless form). This is from the same grex as ‘Ruby’ and is part of the first ever in this nothogenera. A large grower that can reach over 4 feet across in a full rosette of about 150 leaves. The leaves are 2.25 inches at the base, tapering to a point, almost spineless, with a few random small. The inflorescence can be over 4 feet tall and can have 30 branches or more and is light red. The flowers have light red sepals and pink petals. The plant is a spectacular specimen for landscape, blushing bright red in strong light.

This Carole Richtmyer hybrid, a cross of sinuosus ‘High ‘N Mighty’ x ‘Hawaiian Beauty‘ introduced in 1991, is still a real beauty to add to your Cryptanthus collection.  This large growing plant, to 18″ in diameter, has a round open rosette form.  The many leaves, 18+, are oblanceolate, 1.75″ wide, and are remarkable for their clear red color, green under mottling, silver bands in good light, and light scurfing underneath.