Phormium tenax 'Variegatum', perhaps?

tj

Thanks TJ

Hi everyone.

Nancy - Without seeing a picture of the flower on your plant, I can't be certain, but from what I see in your picture I would say it's Billbergia 'Foster's Striate'. To see a picture for later comparison with your plant, go to:

http://registry.bsi.org/?genus=BILLBERGIA&id=847#847

I had it for many years just growing in the garden beneath a Peppercorn Tree where I had originally planted it in a hole containing 50% pine bark and 50% General Potting mix. I put about 2 tablespoons full of "Dynamic Lifter" (Pelletised Poultry Manure) on top of the ground around the base of the plant and just watered it overhead as required.

The reason I don't grow it any more is that where I live it's noted for attracting Soft White Scale and Mealy Bug, which although not a major problem normally, they were for me as I don't spray insecticides and do have a collection of a couple of thousand other plants which I didn't want Mealy Bug invading.

It is a beautiful plant which produces a magnificent flower head and is generally well worth growing for most people, but be on the lookout for these insect pests which in some areas will invade the plant, especially the area beneath the dead leaves at the base of the plant and from here they will spread to other bromeliads nearby.

Often it seems shy to flower and I found that extra Potassium applied in a foliar spray seemed to encourage flowering. Just be aware if you use a fertiliser which is too high in Nitrogen you will usually get good foliage growth at the expense of flowers and foliage colour, so read the NPK ratio information on the packet and make sure the number of the "K" (Potassium) is higher than that of the "N" (Nitrogen) or ask a horticulturalist to recommend a good fertiliser with a higher percentage of Potassium than Nitrogen.

Also remember that good light equals flowers and colour and I find that this plant likes 70% - 80% light (but no direct overhead sun) here where I live in Australia.

Billbergia 'Foster Striate' showing the beautiful inflorescence with the typical foliage in the background.

Bill. 'Foster's Striate' - This picture shows how unstable this plant can sometimes be with the foliage variegation being very different throughout the whole of this large clump and with some non-variegated leaves as well. Even with this fault, in my opinion, it's still a very attractive plant. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

Billbergia 'Foster Striate' showing a close-up of a single flower.

All the best, Nev.

Another lady has told me it is a Billbergia Foster Striate, I have never seen it bloom. This plant stays outdoors in spring and summer and is brought in to the basement in winter, has no light and still alive. The plant belongs to my mother she is going to repot and give me a piece of her plant. Thank you for the info. Very helpful. I do not have any other bromeliads. Just citrus trees to bring inside for the winter months. I do not want bugs.