I've had this plant about five years and it has
nine large buds that are beginning to open.
The common name is 'Queen's Tears' and
I would like to know the botanical name.
Please,

Louise
___________

Billbergia nutans, I think. I have one. Love it!

Thanks, Tee,
This plant has totally filled a very
large black nursery pot and should
be separated and repotted after the
blooming is finished.

Louise

Louise, you've got the touch.

It came in a box of several succulents from the
man on DG who was the resident guru for those
plants. Somewhere close to Springfield.
We are blessed by gardeners who share their
abundance.
LM

Louise, plant some of those under a tree. They can take a freeze with just a sheet over them. Mine bloom as early as January sometimes.

We've had several days lately that were in the mid 20's. Would they survive those temps?

Louise

I walked out and took a photo of the ones that are under my pineapple guava tree. They are just beginning to bud. We've had a couple of freezes already and another expected tonight. I haven't covered these at all. I wouldn't suggest planting all of your bilbergias into the garden, just a few (they'll multiply). It would be an "experiment!"

Thanks for the suggestion. I have two pots that are very full
of plants and need dividing. I sent 5 or 6 plants to a cubits
member last year and the pot os full again.
I like the way that the blooms have pure colors in each bloom -
yellow, blue, pink,white and green. And the way the bloom
arches over.

Louise

The first time I saw one bloom, I couldn't stop looking at the colors and marveling that something so small could be so perfect and colorful. I think that's what encouraged me to get more bromeliads. Their flowers are so different and exotic.

For a bit of an oddity, have you looked at Pitcairnia xanthocalyx? I am on the edge of zone 9a...used to be 8b and this brom has been in the ground for about 6 years and has done beautifully, multiplying and blooming.It is one of the cold hardier bromeliads.


http://www.bocabromeliads.com/...

It's beautiful! I've never seen a bloom like that on one before.

Thanks. I really like the burst of yellow. I have it planted with Lycoris aurea and Kniphofia...gives me lots of happy yellow in that part of the garden