This attractive and unusual evergreen perennial is a hybrid between Billbergia nutans and Billbergia decora, having the larger flowers of decora but the winter hardiness of nutans. Despite being an epiphytic bromeliad it lends itself very well to being grown directly in the soil if it is a humus rich and moist, but well drained media. By bromeliad standards it is fast growing, quickly forming compact clumps of funnel shaped rosettes with green, strap like leaves. Long stems of pink and green flowers with rose pink bracts appear in summer in pendent racemes up to 50cm long.

Either plant directly into the ground in part/ dappled shade or wrap the sparse root system with moss and tie onto the branches of trees for a more natural, jungle effect. Makes the perfect and easy to maintain houseplant for a light area (but out of direct sunlight) and also makes an attractive addition to summer hanging baskets and pots. Mist spray regularly if growing in a dry atmosphere and shade during the summer if under glass. Foliage usually reaches about 30cm in height with the flower spikes rising above the foliage.

They are quite cold tolerant, we have had our plants survive short periods down to -5 with nothing more than some minor cold damage to the foliage. They even survived the few nights of -10c we had during the 2023 winter, and although top growth was knocked back they started sending new shoots out from the base by late May. Cold damaged foliage can just be trimmed away once all frosts have passed. Brown spot can be a bit of a problem during cold, damp winters but again, once the warmer spring weather arrives and infected leaves can just be trimmed off and will soon be replaced with fresh growth. Our plants are grown from cold hardy stock and are exposed to cold during the winter so may have some cold damage if purchasing in the winter months.

Sent as a young plant in a 9cm pot.