This early Skotak hybrid is a cultivar of ‘Fireball’ x ?. Unreported parentage. A small beauty almost the same size and shape of the ‘Fireball’ parent, with the same stoloniferous habit. A nicely variegated plant with reddish leaves in good light and light white to pinkish variegation.

The variegation is in the form of multiple thin stripes or lineations up the center of each leaf. It is a great plant for hanging baskets, for mounting and for use in terrariums.

A Brazilian native with wide, thick, leathery leaves in a 15 inch, recurving rosette. An unusual gray-blue color, speckled with tiny red dots and bearing an interesting, branched, yellow inflorescence produced in winter make this an attractive species. In spite of the gray, thick leaves, it is a shade grower in nature, living on granite rock cliff faces inside the mountainous Tijuca forest of Rio de Janeiro. A slow grower, excellent for terrariums when small.

A neat miniature, stoloniferous, clumping species that matures at less than 6 inches tall. Its gracefully curving, slightly speckled leaves form a bulbous base and a 10 inch flower spike with light red, white tipped bracts. Discovered near Parati in Rio de Janeiro state of Brazil and described in 1980, it is a native of low, wet rainforest where it grows as an epiphyte. An easy to grow yet rare collector item. Superior for terrariums.

Neoregelia ‘Hannibal Lecter‘ An unusual, very decorative hybrid from Chester Skotak, with a name that reflects his famed, warped wit. Three clones exist, all selections of a grex resulting from the cross of Neo. punctatissima x carcharodon ‘Tiger’. In general, the plants are medium sized, to about 24 inches across, very stiff leaved with stout spines, and boldly banded with reddish-brown over green.

NO HOLDING - MUST SHIP IMMEDIATELY

A cultivar of Goudaea ospinae v. gruberi, a beautiful Colombian species, with (in our opinion) an unfortunate name choice. A beauty with light green colored leaves that have reduced burgundy colored markings that resemble wet ink that has been smeared. Grows and offsets the same as other ospinae v. gruberi cultivars and has the same inflorescence.

A beautiful plant that Tropiflora helped introduce to cultivation. Native to the same mountainous region of central Colombia which produces ospinae and chrysostachys, there is absolutely nothing that compares to this plant. The foliage is very tough and is various shades of green, with brown and black reticulations, mottling and markings. The effect is almost like that of a ‘Silk’ plant so unique is the pattern. Does not much resemble typical ospinae, the plants are bigger, fuller with wider leaves and do not pup as much as the typical form. The inflorescence is yellow and well branched. Thrives in normal bromeliad mix or even bare root.

A Sharon Peterson hybrid of (correia-araujoi x ‘Charm’). A beauty 24 to 30 inches across with leaves nearly 4 inches wide. Leaf color is red with lots of yellow mottling throughout. Blooms with a red center. Needs fairly strong light to take on best color.

(Puya tuberosa (Baker clone) x Encholirium species #1 from Rudolph Schulz (Ray Lemieux), Spineless silvery foliage with a branching burgundy inflorescence.  A nice choice for a full-sun spot in your landscape.

NO HOLDING - MUST SHIP IMMEDIATELY

A miniature hybrid from Lisa Vinzant is a cultivar of lilliputiana x (‘Fireball’ x olens). Light green colored leaves that have slight red flecking and random bands. Offsets form on long stolons. Best for hanging pot culture. No color change at anthesis.

An as yet unnamed cross of Neoregelia ‘Rio Ocher’ x olens ‘Vulcan’ is an apple green plant with a vivid red center flush at anthesis. The inch and a half wide leaves are somewhat thick and leathery and the marginal spines are small. It develops some red cross-banding on the leaves which become more pronounced with strong light or when grown “harder”. Offsets are on short stolons and the plant is good for mounting and for terrarium use.

An obscure species that is a gem for hybridists. A cute small grower, about 6 to 8 inches, forming an upright rosette of fairly stiff green, bronzy-tinted leaves that are barred with deep red. At anthesis, the center flushes red. Nice for a 3 to 4 inch pot or hanging basket with its stoloniferous habit.