#bromeliad

[boobookittenartblog]

Queen of the Andes (Puya raimondii)

Extremely rare and endangered, this ancient marvel known as the “Queen of the Andes” is the largest bromeliad in the world. The remarkable flower spike only appears after 80 or more years of vegetative growth. This means that one such plant will bloom only once in a century!

photograph by Waldemar Niclevicz

[greycatbird]

Beings of the cypress swamp

[ruthbancroftgarden]

Puya venusta

Ruth Bancroft was delighted when this clump-forming silvery-leaved bromeliad finally flowered in the garden, but sadly it was later killed in a severe cold snap in 1990. It took us a long time to get another one, but we are very happy to have it back! The intense purplish-blue of the flowers, combined with the pinkish-red of the stalks and the silvery leaves - well, it all adds up to a stand-out!

-Brian

[firthbetterorfirthworse]

 "All the rest of it is just the things humans say to each other to make sure that they're still alive."

"What do you mean?"

"They say things like 'How are you' and 'Have a nice day' and 'What do you think of this weather, then?' What these sounds mean is: I am alive and so are you."

[ends-2-beginnings]

#my-photo • bromeliads - Billbergia pyramidalis • Feb. 10, 2026

Billbergia pyramidalis, commonly known as the flaming torch and foolproof plant, is a species of the bromeliad family that is native to northern South America and parts of the Caribbean.

[wenbochenphoto]

Brocchinia tatei, native to Venezuela and Guyana, has a unique symbiosis relationship with microbes. It's not carnivorous but hosts nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in its 'water tanks' that convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable nutrients the plant can absorb, fascinating!

[femmekinkajou]

Can I request Bromelia (I think that's her name?), Kinkajou's neglectful teacher?

[cactguy]

Puya berteroniana | Turquoise puya

Native to Chile, puya are not succulents; rather, they are bromeliads. While there are around 150 species, P. berteroniana is one of seven species in the sub-genus Puya.

This specimen is from the University of California, Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden.

Off-topic post: you’re welcome!