Queen's Tears, Friendship Plant
Billbergia nutans var. schimperiana
Queen's Tears, Friendship Plant (Billbergia nutans var. schimperiana) is a larger plant than Billbergia nutans and thus has much larger blooms. (Coke can provides size prospective)
What a stunning plant!
Thank you for your comment. I agree that this is a stunning plant. One of the residents in my brother's apartment building placed the container on the front porch. Because I have 2 containers of Billbergia nutans, I thought that these plants resemble mine. But, the plants' leaves are so huge and spiny, I had not known the plants' ID until they started to bloom (at the very same time my did). There are many plants in this container and I am hoping to trade the owner a couple of mine for a couple of his when their bloomimg period has ended. I love the way the sunlight make the leaves appear different shades of green Some of the leaves are growing at an angle which shows the undersides which are a lighter green and have banded varieagation.
Gorgeous!
:) Donna
who carries them do you know?? love this plant.. great one..
Donna, thank you for your comments. It is indeed gorgeous. I can envision it growing in my yard in a large container like the one in the photo ... maybe someday if I can swap some offshoots with the owner.
hope43, I have never seen it for sell here, but then maybe it is because I was never looking for it and/or it was never in bloom when it was at the nuseries so I never noticed it. I am searching for a container of them now after I know what it is and they appear to blooming now. Supposedly, they have not been been important commercially because their flowering period is brief although they bloom intermittenly throughout the year fo me at least. So, many wholesalers do not offer them to retailers because they would have to "time it just right" for the plants to be in bloom to entice sales. You might call nuseries in your area anad ask if they have any for sale. I have seen the Billbergia nutans type for sale a couple of times in the past. Thanks for your comments.
This message was edited Jan 22, 2008 5:55 PM
