Rosette broad, spreading. Leaves to 40 cm long, 5-9 cm wide, sheath dark brown; blade erect, shortly spine tipped, green but each side with heavy silver-grey cross banding. Inflorescence compound on a white woolly scape; bracts bright red, conspicuous. Flowers 8-10, stalkless; sepals red with yellowish tip; petals narrow, yellow-orange.

A. chantinii is in the subgenus Platyaechmea (Group 5)

Colombia to Peru, Brazil

This is one of the most attractive and highly prized bromeliads due to the prominent silver banding of the leaves and the attractive branched, erect inflorescence. Cold tender from Brisbane southwards.

Source: Christensen, T.; Butcher, D. (2005). Bromeliaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.