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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

FOLIAGE FOLLOW-UP & GBBD: BROMELIADS STAND IN AS 'FLOWERS' IN A SHADY TROPICAL GARDEN

    A colorful photo of  bromeliads growing up a hillside in Costa Rica was my Eureka moment a couple of years back. The idea: that from a distance colorful bromeliads can stand in for flowers in a tropical shade garden. At once I started imagining these plants punctuating the all green landscape of my backyard. So...here they are! After many years of collecting, I'd like to show you some of the 'flowers' where no flowers can grow. The leaves of bromeliads form beautiful rosettes of color.
     To see more of what gardeners are doing, visit our hosts, Carol, at May Dreams Gardens and Pam at Digging who hosts Foliage Follow-up. These bromeliads can fit into both posts this time around. DIGGING and MAY DREAMS GARDENS are on my sidebar favorites and always fun to visit.
Happy GBBD & FOLIAGE FOLLOW-UP!
Neoregelia 'Florida Red Bands'

Aechmea blanchetiana
(protect from frost or it will be lost!)
Neoregelia hybrid. I like the apple green with pink tips!
                                                This is a purple & green Aechmea
Neoregelia with three colors. These become stronger in cooler weather.

One of my favorite purple Neoregelias.

Neoregelia 'Vulcan' hybrid. I love the speckles.

My favorite variegated Neoregelia.

A miniature Neoregelia mixes well with variegated Arrowleaf.

Neoregelia hybrid. The cooler weather gives it that reddish blush.

A red blushed Neoregelia with variegated Alstroemeria.

I bought this one at a Bromeliad Society sale and it was considered a failed hybrid. I love it since it grows very quickly and has some frost tolerance.

I hope you think about adding some of these easy to grow plants into your garden or indoors. They make great houseplants as long as you keep them filled with water.
Thanks for stopping by.
David/ :-)


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11 comments:

  1. jeanDecember 15, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    You have some beautiful bromeliads! We have a few around our farm. Most of it grows wild so, we don't bother planting them.

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  2. Loree/danger gardenDecember 15, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    Being able to plant Bromeliads in my garden would be a dream! If only. Yours are gorgeous!

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  3. Christine @ The Gardening BlogDecember 15, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    The combination of Neoregelia with the variegated Alstroemeria is a really stunning contrast ... going to have to think about adding both of those to my shaded spots, I think they look wonderful together!
    Happy GBBD :)

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  4. MarisaDecember 15, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    I love my bromeliads, and was just out photographing one this morning. You have a great collection and I agree they are are great flower substitute - and their flowers last so long. The combination with the alstomeria works really well too.

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  5. noelDecember 15, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    aloha,

    great collection of broms, thanks for sharing them

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  6. Dorothy/Gardening with NatureDecember 15, 2011 at 6:25 PM

    Beautiful bromeliads! I need more of them in my garden.

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  7. DeniseDecember 15, 2011 at 6:57 PM

    David, these are stunning. I have just a few, but I think you've given me a eureka moment!

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  8. RohrerbotDecember 15, 2011 at 9:00 PM

    I love your arrangements. Nice work!

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  9. GailDecember 16, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    David, I've only ever seen this many beautiful bromeliads at arboretum! Fantastic. gail

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  10. Pam/DiggingDecember 17, 2011 at 1:26 PM

    I like to use succulents in the same way you use bromeliads, as foliage "flowers." These are even more colorful. Thanks for joining in for Foliage Follow-Up, David!

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  11. QDecember 17, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    Gorgeous!
    Apple Green and pink is a beautiful combo...
    May you and yours have a blessed Holiday!
    Sherry

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I always appreciate your comments & questions! Happy Gardening from David/ Tropical Texana