A beautiful and easy to care for bromeliad from Equador with rosettes of thin, recurved leaves and paddle shaped flower bracts. The bracts are attractive enough but when the intense violet/ blue flowers appear from the pink bracts it just looks stunning. In it natural environment it is epiphytic and grows high up in the tree canopy with it's roots firmly fastened around the host trees branches. Can easily be grown as a houseplant in a pot with an open, moist but free draining, humus rich compost. Position in a bright spot but out of midday sun and mist regularly. When misting try to use rainwater. They will tolerate tap water but rainwater is preferred and does not leave white residue on the leaves from the lime that is common in hard water areas.

Hardiness wise we have had this beauty tolerate temps down to -3 to -5c and is just getting through it's second winter outside down in our south coast garden. It is happily growing tied to a mature Arbutus whose evergreen canopy seems to provide enough shelter from the cold nights. To attach to a tree remove the compost from the sparse rudimentary root system spreading them around the trunk. Pack a thick layer of sphagnum moss around the roots and base of the plant and tie into place with monofilament fishing line. Spray with water regularly during hot dry periods in summer. Mature plants can reach up to 50cm tall with a similar spread.

You will receive a young plant in a 5.5cm pot. 

Additional photos:

By Lavinia Engelbrecht - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56878740