Leaves narrow-linear, 30-50 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, recurving, olive-green, scaled beneath; margins with short, slender spines. Scape curving downwards, bracts bright pinkish-red. Inflorescence pendent, few-flowered; sepals pinkish-red with dark blue margins; petals green with violet-blue margins.
Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina
A very hardy species suitable for outdoor cultivation, often forming large clumps. Leaves turn reddish if grown in full sun. The true species is rare but there are many hybrids in cultivation.
Related cultivars: ‘Kahibah’ Small tight tube, green leaves banded silver, cream spotted, very flared at top. Pendent inflorescence, bracts red, petals green, tipped blue. Several clones are available.
‘Leodiensis’ Medium tight tube, leaves stiff, green, banded silver. Pendent inflorescence, deep rose-pink bracts, petals green, edged violet.
‘Santa Barbara’ Small, with either narrow tube or broad tube on same clump. Leaves green, striped yellow. Pendent inflorescence, bracts rose, petals green with blue edges.
‘Windii’ Medium loose tube, grey-green leaves. Pendent inflorescence, large showy deep pink bracts; petals green, edged blue. Flowers sporadically year round. [‘Theodore L. Mead’]
Source: (2005). Bromeliaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.