The Vriesea family is a very popular and easily cultivated bromeliad. The genera can be divided into two groups. One is grown for there impressive foliage and the other for their colourful bracts and flowers.They range in sizes from a very tiny 10 cm to more than 2 metre in diameter and height.

The bright flowering group are very colourful and have long lasting flowering displays. These large spikes and brightly coloured bracts hold the magnitude of tiny colourful flowers, above the soft green foliage. They have smooth shiny green leaves with no spines on their edges and form neat rosettes.

The foliage group have striking foliage markings and colours and are symmetrically vase shaped to hold water in their neat rosettes. The long flower spike is camouflaged with the foliage markings and extends dominantly above the foliage.

zamorensis

Vriesea zamorensis is a very striking and beautiful flowering plant. Its soft leaves hide the strong growing characteristics. The long slender ribbon leaves are a very shinny light green.

The very striking yellow flowers protrude from the reddish orange yellow multiple bracts from the many branched spikes and are displayed high above the rich foliage, lasting for several months.

Vriesea zamorensis grows 30 cm diameter and 45 cm high, in a medium size pot.

fosteriana " Red Chestnut"

Vriesea fosteriana "Red Chestnut" is a very striking and beautifully marked foliage plant, ideal for landscaping. The very shinny broad leaves form a dense compact rosette, with good growing characteristics. The foliage is medium green with uneven whiter bands markings and maroon colouration showing on both sides.

The speckled flower spike is prominent with two opposed rows of multiple bracts at the top end. The very striking large yellow flowers protrude from these speckled bracts. They are displayed high on the speckled flower spike, above the rich patterned foliage and last for many months.

Vriesea fosteriana "Red Chestnut" grows 90cm diameter and 1.5 metres high, either planted in the ground, a rockery, or in a large pot.

fosteriana hybrid

Vriesea fosteriana is a very striking and beautiful foliage plant. The very shinny broad leaves form a dense compact rosette, the foliage being medium green with darker markings and patterns showing. These lush leaves hide the good growing characteristics and a very rich colour source all year.

The very striking large yellow flowers protrude from the dark red bracts and are displayed high on the dark red spike, above the rich patterned foliage, lasting for many months.

Vriesea fosteriana grows 80cm diameter and 1.2 metres high, either planted in the ground or in a large size pot. The 1 metre flower spike is just developing in this photo.

ospinae

Vriesea ospinae is a very striking and beautiful lemon yellow coloured flowering plant. This unusual plant has numerous leaves growing on a very open fibrous stem. They form a dense rosette with whitish, light and dark green speckled patterns like snake's skin on the leaves.

The vivid yellow flowers protrude from the yellow multi support bracts. The flat, narrow sword shaped multiple vertically branched flower spike also in vivid yellow, are displayed high above the rich speckled foliage and lasting for several months.

Vriesea ospinae grows 40 cm diameter and 80 cm high, either planted in the ground, a rockery, or in a large pot.