A cultivar of (Aechmea chantinii x ramosa). The plant is an upright funnel form rosette with fairly stiff, 2 to 3 inch wide leaves nearly 24 inches long, with fairly large spines and reddish tips. The color is medium green with pale green variegation and light gray banding as with the chantinii parent. The inflorescence is well-branched and erect, with a rose-red scape and scape bracts and yellow flowers with rose-tinted yellow ovaries. Appears to be very long lasting in bloom.

This plant was found in a Panamanian landscape by Bob Alonzo who obtained an offset, mistaking it for a variegated Portea petropolitana in its non-blooming state. He gave the plant to us upon his return. Since blooming, we feel the plant is the above hybrid and Harry Luther of the BIC concurs. Since there is no record of this cross in a variegated state in cultivation, we have decided to register it and name it in honor of Bob Alonzo who made the find.

*VIPP plants are Offsets

We are not quite sure that there is an interesting story behind the name of this Chester Skotak hybrid, but I am just as happy to not know what it is. This handsome, robust grower is a cross of a selected dark clone of Aechema fendleri with the fabulously popular Aechmea ‘Blue Tango’. The result is a stunning, variegated plant with red tinted foliage and a spectacular blue and pink inflorescence.

*VIPP plants are Small Offsets

A species of Bahia, Brazil where it lives in sand dune habitats, much like Ae. blanchetiana. The plant bears a resemblance to Ae. rubens in the inflorescence, but there are distinct differences there and in the overall size and shape of the plant. A medium grower to about 30 inches tall in an upright, funnelform rosette of wide greenish-yellow leaves.

The inflorescence is a scape with reddish branches and bracts. Cultivate in bright light for best form and color.

*VIPP plants are Offsets