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Spiny Arid Land Bromeliads; Plants with Attitude!Read the article this discussion is about
This archived discussion is "read only".
» Jojo - prickly bromeliads for zone 8b Hi JaredI like the idea of having a forboding plant on my front porch, and would like to look into a bromeliad or two that might live outdoors year round, or come into a glass house for breif periods. In another discussion area you noted that Bilbergia is the hardiest of the Bromeliads, and that Dyckia and Hecketia were also quite hardy. I recently found out that there is a lady closeby growing a Fascicularia on her front porch. Then I found a Page about someone's Fascicularia from their garden in Devon, England. Devonshire is a bit warmer than B.C., and about the same level of humidity (fog and rain) as we receive in the rainshadows of coastal B.C. (eg: Surrey is quite a bit drier in winter than Vancouver, and it's about 25 km away). Vancouver itself is deadly in the wintertime. There are many perfectly hardy plants that fail even in the most well-drained soil (eg: rosemary, creeping thyme, Achillea, Delosperma, wooly or furry just about anything). Thanks for calling this to my attention Jared. I'll look into growing Bromeliads further and if there's any directions you can point me in or hints you can give, that would be most indubidably cool. -- posted by Jojo » plantboy - Broms for you I think most of the species I mentioned would do ok for you if you can keep that dang rain off of them. I know it can be a challenge to have a porch that both keeps rain off but allows enough sun. If you have a covered spot that faces south it is possible. If you're into these plants you should just try them. They are certainly unique. Many of the Dyckias have spectacular flowers too. I have some blooming right now. My Dyckia fosteriana is in full bloom with that orange that is like...the color of tang, in powder form before you mix it up to drink. I am not a big orange person. Don't think about the color much to be honest. But this is such a vivid orange that it almost glows in broad daylight.I will divide my plants up in a few weeks. Remind me to send you some broms. I am a forgetful old man. -- posted by plantboy » plantboy - Fascicularia spp. I forgot to comment on your find. I am not as well versed as I should be on Fascicularia but this genus is endemic to Chile. There are I think around 5 species, small for a bromeliad genus. Fascicularia bicolor is one of the most beautiful, especially when blooming. I have not tested this genus myself for cold hardiness but being the most southern extending bromeliad genus of all Bromeliads (occurring at latitudes of 44 degrees south) it may have a chance for being hardy. Plants are however very dry-land plants. You would not want to let them stay wet for prolonged periods. In fact in your climate you may almost never have to water it. There are a lot of Bromeliad sources but only a handful advertise the spiny Broms I have discussed, I will check and see what links I can get you. However if you call any of these nurseries, they usually have some plants around that they may sell.-- posted by plantboy » Clem_Brooks - Spiny Bromiliads I'ld like to add my two cents on the subject of Dykia culture.I have two Dykia in my garden here in Northern California. Both survived last winter's cold snap (<20F and not above 45F for three days). Both showed damage, but went on to look great this summer. I've afraid I don't know the species of the Dykias, as they arrived in my garden from florists rather than nurseries. Both have ornamental, red tinged foliage. It's my opinion that red tinged foliage often adds a bit more cold tolerance to a semi-hardy plant. Only one has bloomed, with very showy, orange flowers. Anna's Hummingbirds have added the flowers to their regular route in search of sustinance. Both Dykias are planted in my hot rock garden, a site that requires exceptional sturdiness of it's plants. They thrive, putting out pups every year. Neither has spread markedly in the three seasons they've been resident. Other plants that are thriving in the same garden bed include: Zauschneria (Epilobium) 'Everett's Choice', Artemisia 'Beth Chatto', Tulipa clusiana, various Sempervivums, Sedum oaxacanum, Sedum lydium, Sedum hispanicum minus, and behind, Salvia regla, Salvia africana aurea, Artemisia 'Powis Castle', Rosa 'Altisimo', Lymus condensatus 'Canyon Prince', Feijoa sellowiana, Solanum pyracanthum (here's a wonderful, scary, plant to add to your spiny garden: orange spines poke from all surfaces, even the ribs of the leaf blades; it died this winter, but left a couple seedlings). Needless to say, there are plenty more plants residing in the dry, hot bed. It took a while finding plants that would thrive and multiply given the challenging conditions, but persistance (and a willingness to kill plants in the process) has succeeded. The bed is now overgrown and requires editing. It's a pleasure to have read your article. I hope to be able to add horticultural information on Puya alpestris someday. I bought a plant last year, but it continues life in a pot until I can clear out the Bermuda Grass from it's intended location. Purchasing plants is a challenge here in rural Northern California. There are plenty of interesting plants available down in the Bay Area, but it's so much milder there. Many of the plants available there wouldn't survive a normal winter here, let alone a cold one. I'ld like to hear from others who have succeeded with spiny bromiliads in the garden. -- posted by Clem_Brooks » plantboy - this is my unfinished page on Dyckia http://38.167.166.81/dyckia.htmSee if you can find your plant here. I have just a few photos scanned right now. It is great to hear that your plabts withstood such a long duration of frost. Someday Ill finish that page. Been to busy lately. -- posted by plantboy » Clem_Brooks - ID's from the lineup Yes, in your photo lineup there are plants that resemble the 'perps in my garden. The second from the bottom is most similar to the two (distinct) plants out in the dry bed. The leaf color on both plants is tinged red as in the photo, but the plants are different from one another; one with a diameter of 10" and the other only 5" when fully grown. The larger of the two is finishing it's bloom cycle. The last of it's yellow/orange flowers is opening. >Breaking news!< The second, smaller, plant has produced it's first ever flower spike, though as yet no flowers.Interestingly, another Dykia in your lineup is familiar. The second from the top is a plant that resides in a 4" pot in my plant collection. It too was outside this past winter during the freeze. It suffered serious damage, but survived. It's leaves were killed back a half their length, though the rosette survived. It's a handsome plant: broad leaves with a mealy coating, brash thorns along the leaf margins. Thanks for the rogue's gallery. -- posted by Clem_Brooks
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