Fascicularia bicolor subsp. caniculata

Stunning and seldom offered Chilean Bromeliad forms a 2-3’ symmetrical rosette with stiff, grassy, arching pointed leaves. On mature plants in late summer to early fall, centers become infused with scarlet and surround a dome of brilliant blue blossoms decorated with yellow anthers that resemble tiny golden stars. Definitely a ‘waz that plant’! Sun in cool areas, bright shade elsewhere, well-drained soil, regular moisture but drought tolerant as well. Nice potted specimen or stump garden darling.

This epiphytic member of the pineapple family hails from Chile and is likely hardier than the currently suggested zone 8b. It forms a congested rosette of long, narrow, silver foliage. When it comes into bloom the foliage near the centre of the plant turns bright red offering a colourful backdrop to the cluster of sky blue flowers. Plant in a protected situation in sharp drainage at an angle so the rosette can drain or attach to a tree. In colder climates grow in a pot and keep it frost free for winter.

Although it has been in US cultivation for some time, this terrestrial bromeliad from Chile has remained very scarce, to a large degree because the other Fascicularia is misidentified as this one. While I'll admit that Fascicularia taxonomy is not entirely clear yet even to me, I do find that those plants with thin, concave leaves tend to be this species, and tend to be much hardier to cold than those with thick leaves. I've seen a few of these thin-leaved creatures making their way into specialty nurseries of late, but none quite as thin as this form, which was originally sent to me by a gardener in Edinburgh, Scotland, where it thrives outdoors with no protection. Tough as nails, this plant will grow into a dense clump of rosettes of narrow, wiry, blue-green leaves. As the plant is about to flower in fall, the inner leaf bracts turn a bright red-pink, and very cool steel-blue flowers appear that will knock your socks off. Unless, of course, you are wearing sandals. It will be happy in a cactus garden, or any bed with well drained soil. Rather slow growing, it also makes an excellent pot specimen, performing best in full sun. Fully hardy in most Pacific Northwest gardens, it should breeze through 5 °F.