Vrieseas
Vrisea imperialis
Rainforest Flora, Inc. is thrilled to introduce its own special form of argu
ably the most sought after bromeliad of all, Vriesea imperialis. This exquisite giant is native to Brazil where it grows high on the sides of cliffs. I have seen specimens over two meters in width and height with an inflorescence of five meters! For most of us mortals, however, we can expect to grow the plants well over a meter in width and height with an inflorescence of close to three meters.
The plants we offer grow well in any garden or patio with bright , filtered light where it doesn't freeze. They will get larger over a period of three to eight years and then they will bloom. During this time they will normally produce a number of offsets. They do not produce offsets once they begin to bloom. The blooming cycle begins in Spring and will last until mid to late fall. It is a huge, spectacular, long-lasting inflorescence. Hummingbirds love to pollinate this plant (in Nature, it is bat pollinated).
We have the green form (green on both leaf surfaces), the red form (red on the underside of the leaf), and our NEW form which we have dubbed 'Rainforest Red' that is red on both leaf surfaces.
Contact us for availability.
Vrisea gigantea
Vriesea gigantea is another of the beautifully decorative Vrieseas that grow to be large. The cool thing is that they are not only attractive now but will continue to be so as they 
grow over the next several years. The plants can be a meter acros
s at maturity. When it does flower, the inflorescence can be a meter to a meter and a half tall although, unlike the spectacular bloom of Vr. imperialis, it is not colorful. By the same token, however, unlike Vr. imperialis, this species does offset with a number of new plants during the blooming cycle.
The care is the same for this species as with any other Vriesea. It prefers medium light and "good" water, that is, water without salts. The use of bottled drinking water, rain water, or filtered sink water is best. Be careful not to expose it to temperatures in the 30's F. For more on Vrisea care, click here.