Androlepis Bromeliad Species

Needs more humidity than we can provide on the west coast. Can grow with irrigation but the leaves dry out because of the dry climate.

This is a stunning and carefree plant here in South Florida. I have been growing this for about 7 years. First one was a large plant,...Read More got to about 4' across and bloomed. This is the only pup it produced, which took just over 4 years to bloom, but this one is nearly 6' across! This is the larger male plant from what I'm told. I also have a smaller much more compact one about the same age which we think is a female, but hasn't bloomed yet.
They both get bright, filtered light all day, with direct morning sun, and are carefree. I've noticed that the amount of red on the leaves varies greatly during the year. Perhaps it gets more/less light as the seasons change. ..?

I've had the pleasure of growing this beautiful, and quite rare bromeliad for about 8 years. Very tolerant of direct sun, as well as hot...Read More, dry conditions- this is an ideal landscape specimen. Mine slowly developed a large colony, which is usually dominated by several mature plants in various stage of bloom. Androlepsis skinneri is a large bromeliad, and armed with nasty teeth along the leaf edges, so choose your site carefully. In full sun, this plant blushes a merlot-red, which is exaggerated if it is "grown hard", abstaining from excess irrigation and fuss. Somewhat tropical in it's requirements, although tolerates brief periods of near-freezing temperatures with minimal damage. Flowers are not particularly dazzling, looking sort of like a white asparagus. This species is primarily grown for the huge, exotic, foliage, and is a prize amongst bromeliad collectors. Often very expensive, and hard to find.

I have only research on this plant, but am searching for one. This is a single species with its own genus. Quite unusual for a bromelia...Read Mored -- it is dioecious. The female has a tall spike of tightly packed, tiny white flowers. Beautiful.