Fascicularia Bicolor

A relation of the pineapple, this is probably the hardiest member of the bromeliad family. It is easily grown in full sun or part shade in pretty well any kind of soil as long as it is well-drained, slowly expanding to form a dense ground-covering mound. In high rainfall areas it can also grow happily in trees epiphytically. It has narrow, toothed-margined leaves that leave nasty welts on the skin after careless handling – gloves are essential. From late summer the inner leaves turn bright scarlet and a cushion studded with small powder blue flowers is pushed up from the centre – very colourful!