The Guzmania family is the most commercialised bromeliad flower crop in Europe and quickly increasing this status to the rest of the world. Their popularity is obvious as their flowers are extremely colourful, exquisite and long lasting. They have flamboyant colours that glow, exotic blooms and they seem to ooze personality. The flowers can be tucked into the shinny green rosette or extend dominantly above the foliage. The large and brightly coloured, very long lasting bracts hold the magnitude of tiny flowers.

These plants in habitat are mostly epiphytical, but also survive and flourish as terrestrials. This adaptability allows them to thrive in plant nurseries and are easily cultivated. A relatively moist rich soil mixture is enjoyed by most Guzmanias.

They range in sizes from a very tiny 10 cm to more than 1 metre high, with striking ample foliage that is generally vase shaped to hold water. They have soft looking, corrugated or smooth shiny green leaves with no spines on their edges.

"Caroline"

Guzmania "Caroline" is a hybrid plant with glossy green leaves with very fine patterns. The long slender leaves are fairly strong and tough, with very finely striped patterns. They have excellent growing characteristics when given mild fertilizer regularly and good light.

The tall thick red and green pin striped spike has decorative leaves before the bright red secondary bracts. The decorative brilliant red secondary bracts support and emphasize the long bright white clusters of primary bracts. The white vertical flowers are stark against the red stem and the white bracts at the axils.

Guzmania "Caroline" grows 70 cm diameter and 50cm high in a medium sized pot or directly into the ground. They could also be attached directly to a log or tree branch.

"Minnie Belle"

Guzmania "Minnie Belle" is a hybrid plant with glossy burgundy to green patterns in the leaves. The very long slender leaves are fairly strong and tough, with very finely striped patterns. They have excellent growing characteristics when given mild fertilizer regularly and a good light supply.

This very colourful and decorative plant produces a thick red flower spike from the central rosette. The spike has a decorative collar of brilliant red secondary bracts. These highlight the bright yellow clusters of primary bracts that hold the flowers.

Guzmania "Minnie Belle" grows 65 cm diameter and 40cm high in a medium sized pot or directly into the ground.

stricta

Guzmania stricta is a green species plant with glossy grassy type leaves. The very long slender leaves are fairly strong and tough, with very finely striped patterns. They have excellent growing characteristics if given mild fertilizer periodically and a good light supply.

The very striking bright yellow bunched flowers protrude from the reddish orange multiple bracts, almost platted, as the many branched spikes cluster together. As they progressively flower, the branches gradually extend out and away from the central bright red stem.

This magnificent decoration provided by a long cylindrical cluster of flower heads of brilliant bright red primary bracts, that last for many months.

Guzmania stricta grows 35 cm diameter and 90cm high and likes to cluster in a medium sized pot or directly into the ground.

"Puna Gold"

Guzmania "Puna Gold" is a glossy green plant with corrugated striped patterns in the leaves. It is a cultivar of a lingulata hybrid.

This medium sized plant produces a thick flower spike from the central rosette. The spike has several levels of decorative leaves before the lemony cream secondary bracts. These support the bright yellow clusters of primary bracts that produce the flowers.

Guzmania "Puna Gold" grows 70 cm diameter and 40cm high in a medium sized pot or directly into the ground.

lingulata

Guzmania lingulata is a very striking species, ideal for landscaping. The dark green leaves display dark reddish colouring in the centre of the rosettes. The plants large foliage rosette has up to thirty leaves, all beautifully marked very slightly.

The tall thick spike has decorative leaves before the bright red secondary bracts. The top of the spike has a decorative collar of brilliant red secondary bracts. These support and highlight the rosette of bright white clusters of primary bracts that incorporate the flowers.

Guzmania lingulata grows 45 cm diameter and 70 cm high, either planted in the ground, a rockery, or in a medium sized pot.

sanguinea

Guzmania sanguinea is a very striking and beautifully marked species plant, when flowering.
The large rosette is bright green before flowering, then transforming to blood red, yellow and burgundy spots and patterns. These colourings differ for each plant and intensify as the bright red bracts, expand in the centre. The bright yellow flowers extend about 3 cm above the bracts and flowering continues for about a month. On some sanguinea plants, the circular coloured patterned foliage is extremely concentric and uniform, with the rosette.

Guzmania sanguinea grows 40cm diameter and 15 cm high, either planted in the ground, a rockery, or in a medium sized pot, in a relatively moist rich soil mixture.