Chamaecereus silvestrii

Chamaecereus silvestrii

Aloe aristata

Aloe aristata

Billbergia nutans
Queen's Tears, Friendship Plant
Size
ex 9cm pot
Availability: Sold Out
£9.99
Quick Overview
  • Hardy bromeliad
  • Epiphytic habit
  • Exquisite jewel-like flowers
  • Rosettes of long thin leaves
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One of the easiest Bromeliads to grow and – perhaps more importantly – one of the hardiest. I have grown Billbergia nutans outside through every British winter for more than 25 years. It has experienced every imaginable degree of neglect and still it keeps on surviving – and flowering – year after year. It offsets so freely that you can afford to experiment with it and it is particularly well suited to being given an epiphytic perch in the crook of a tree or the old petiole of a Trachycarpus palm. From such a jungly vantage point it sprays out in a wonderful burst of long thin strappy foliage cascading down the trunk like some exotic botanical spider and exploding in late spring and early summer with the most exquisite miniature flowers imaginable. Held aloft on long delicate bracts of soft pink, the clusters of small pendulous flowers have green petals edged with an astonishing tone of metallic-blue and are completed by a dangling set of yellowish anthers. Yet for all its jewelled beauty, to talk of the cultivation requirements of this old-warhorse-of-a-hardy-exotic, is for me somewhat anachronistic, as I tend just to give it a little soil, put it somewhere sheltered and then leave it to get on with life, coming back - every once in a while - to enjoy the flowers. It prefers dappled shade, reasonable overhead shelter from a canopy of larger plants and a well-drained, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil.

It has a very small root system and it is this smallness of this root system and its ability to thrive on so little that lends itself to being planted as an epiphyte, where it often grows in its native countries; Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. However because of this same small root system, you will need to ensure they don't dry out if planting as an epiphyte. If you do plant it in a pot it should be in a small one. Of course you can also have it inside as a house or conservatory plant where its flowering cycle may tend to be more regular with such pampered treatment but for an ‘instant exotic’ look of epiphytic-festooned jungle, Billbergia nutans is impossible to beat.

A grove of Trachycarpus bedecked with this delightful little gem is a very magical place.


Additional Information

Order Poales
Family Bromeliaceae
Sub-Family Bromelioideae
Geographical Origin Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina
Cultivation Partial shade. Plants will turn pinkish-red if exposed to too much sun in spring or summer. Keep moist in the summer, although they don't need huge amounts of water as they have a small root system
Eventual Height 40 cm
Eventual Spread 20 cm
Hardiness Probably the hardiest Bromeliad. My plants have survived down to -14 C but they don't exactly enjoy it much
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Customer Reviews

Items 1 to 10 of 17 total

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  1. Top notch!
    I ordered two of these, both came exceedingly well packed and in great health. Heaps of pups on both as well. Very good size! Can't wait to get in tucked into a nook somewhere. Lots of helpful information on the website as well! Really chuffed.

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  2. Great
    Great little plant, looks strong and healthy, can't wait to plant it on the trunk of one of my tree ferns

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  3. Very Healthy Great Quality
    Lots of pups coming through, well packaged and very healthy plant, looking forward to growing it on

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  4. Lovely plant, excellent service
    A beautiful striking plant, delivered in excellent condition with first class customer service! Thank you.

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  5. Fantastic plants
    Well packed healthy plants with lots of baby offsets. Thank you very much

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  6. And a third...
    Three nutans in, they're all excellent examples. about 30cm high growth, very happy plants.

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  7. Another bushy plant
    I came back for a second, which is equally plump and very healthy.

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  8. Voluptuous delightful plant
    This is the first bromeliad I've bought in probably 10 years and I think you may have started something...

    A great quality plant, lots of new offsets and I can't wait for next year to hopefully see that spectacular flower.

    Living nestled in an old apple tree.

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  9. many thanks
    Price
    100%
    Value
    100%
    Quality
    100%
    Great plant

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  10. Sadly It Did Not Survive
    Sadly my plant did not survive our winter (Scotland). I overwintered it in the greenhouse and it lasted through until we had a lengthy spell of sub zero temperatures at the beginning of the year.

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Items 1 to 10 of 17 total

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Billbergia nutans
Queen's Tears, Friendship Plant
Size
ex 9cm pot
£9.99
You could receive 20 Palm Points for writing a review for this product.
Add to My Wishlist Add to Compare Email to a Friend
17  Reviews
Rating:
100% of 100
Add Your Review
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