Vriesea.
These handsome bromeliads have stiff, sword-shaped leaves with smooth edges, arranged in a loose rosette that can hold water in a cup-like centre. Like most bromeliads, Vrieseas do not flower until they are several years old. They have strongly coloured, usually upright, sword-shaped flower spikes, which may be produce at various times of the year, depending on conditions. Further, the flowers can be yellow, white or green. In fact, the whole floral structure is very attractive, and long lasting. An effect largely derived from brilliant bracts rather than the short-lived flowers. It is the flower spike that shows its close relationship to the genus Tillandsia.
Because of the large area of distribution, climate, shade, and height above sea level, many species can adapt easily to growing indoors. Besides the many species, countless hybrids are worth acquiring.
The genus Vriesea has more than 250 recognised species. They are mostly epiphytes with a geographical range extending from Mexico, through Central America, and the West Indies to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. They also have a large concentration in eastern Brazil, and Costa Rica. Where they can be found growing in rainforests from sea level to 3,000-metres (9,850-feet).
Vriesea carinata
Lobster Claw
Paint Brush
This attractive small plant has a rosette of fifteen to twenty, light green leaves, which are soft textured. Each leaf is only 15-centimetres (6-inches) long, and 2.5-centimetres (1-inch) wide. Also, many offsets form in the leaf axils. On its inflorescence are the most brilliant colours of the genus. The flattened stem is between 5 and 7.5-centimetres (2 and 3-inches) long. On this stem are lobster-claw-shaped bracts. They are coloured bright cardinal red at the base, blending to yellow, and green towards their tips. Out of each bract, a bright yellow flower appears.
Although an excellent pot plant, it needs a large pot to fit its large root system.
They grow as epiphytes on bushes, and low on trees in shady areas. These plants belong to the warm-temperate, and subtropical rainforests of southern Brazil, where we can discover them around 1,220-metres (4,000-feet) above sea level.
Vriesea fenestralis
The broad, recurved leaves are 45-centimetres (18-inches) long, with a width of 5-centimetres (2-inches). This foliage has green, and yellowish intersecting markings. The undersides of the leaves have purplish circular markings especially near the base. This outstanding foliage forms a beautiful rosette. Approximately twenty-five yellowish flowers appear out of green bracts on an upright, flat spike.
These plants grow on trees in moist, warm-temperate, and subtropical montane forests of southern Brazil. It is a species that spreads from sea level to 1,680-metres (5,500-feet).
Syn. Vriesea hamata.
Vriesea fosteriana
Red Chestnut
Broad, mid-green leaves on this large species have a reddish-brown band on both sides. This foliage can grow up to 1-metre (3-feet) long, and form a dense rosette. From the centre of the plant, a prominent flower spike reaches upwards to 150-centimetres (5-feet) tall. From each bract a yellow flower develops.
The immature plant in the picture is only 40-centimetres in hight with a spread of 45 centimetres.
Covering a large area, its natural home is from Mexico to Brazil, with some plants in the North of Argentina.
Vriesea gigantea ‘Nova’
With its spreading rosette of cream, and green horizontal, and vertical lines, this large cultivar is very attractive. The one in the photograph is an immature specimen but is already 35-centimetres (14-inches) high, and 50-centimetres (20-inches) wide.
Vriesea heiroglyphica
This extremely handsome foliage plant has glossy, bright green leaves with wide, and irregular horizontal bands of dark green. Also, each of the 90-centimetre (35-inch) long leaves are 7.5-centimetres (3-inches) wide. A rosette is formed that grows to 170-centimetres (60-inches) wide. The inflorescence is trivial compared with the foliage. Nevertheless, it has 2.5-centimetre (1-inch) long pale green bracts, and insipid yellow flowers.
A well-drained potting mixture is essential. It will grow to its finest appearance in a moist, shady atmosphere. However, it needs plenty of room.
We can find them growing low down on shady trees in its native home. Their natural habitat is at low elevations in warm-temperate southern Brazil.
Vriesea saundersii
Dull, and leathery leaves of blue-grey form a rosette. Each leaf is smooth, and recurving, flecked with purple underneath. This rosette can develop to 45-centimetres (18-inches) in diameter. From the centre grows a curving inflorescence that has yellowish-white bracts, and sulphur yellow flowers.
If we grow them in good light, they will obtain a light pink tinge. Good drainage, light shade, and a moist, frost-free climate will keep this plant happy.
They are found growing on trees in the tropical forests of Bahia, Brazil, from sea level to an altitude of 400-metres (1,300-feet).
Vriesea splendens
Flaming Sword
The 30 to 45-centimetre (12 to 18-inch) long leaves of this species are 2.5 to 4-centimetres (1 to 11/2-inches) wide. Each is dull green with conspicuous cross banding of purplish-black, still more so on the reverse side of the leaf. An attractive rosette is formed by this foliage. Also, from the centre of this rosette, an upright inflorescence emerges. It consists of a flattened stem of brilliant red or orange overlapping bracts, and yellow flowers.
Propagation can be difficult, as it only produces one side shoot, and it is from the top of the plant, next to the inflorescence. Growing by seed is the easiest method. If a good clone is to be kept, tissue culture may be the best way.
A potting mixture that drains quickly is essential. Also, we should try to grow this plant in a frost free, moist, and shady environment.
It grows as an epiphyte, terrestrial, and occasionally a saxicolous plant. Mostly, they can be found growing in the lower levels of dense forests, where they are always in the shade in wet areas of tropical Trinidad, and Venezuela, Guiana, and Surinam. Nevertheless, this habitat varies in height from 270 to 1,150-metres (900 to 3,800-feet) above sea level.
Vriesea Hybrids
Vriesea ‘Favorite’
Leaves on this hybrid grow 20-centimetres (8-inches) high and 50-centimetres (20-inches) wide. Each is light green and helps to form an open rosette. From the centre, rises a paddle-shaped inflorescence, with crab-claw-like bracts on two sides.