Bromelia balansae
(brom. bal.)
Description
A must have, fiery, touch-me-not for the dry, rocky, isolated spots in desertscapes. The large rosettes of striking silver green foliage have curved spines bearing vicious dagger-tipped claws on the edge, and can spread up to 1.5 metres. When in flower, the central leaves turn a fiery red and provide a stunning backdrop to the white felted flower spike bearing purple flowers. An extremely hardy plant, it can withstand extended droughts and frosts down to 9 deg C.
Photo Courtesy Dr. Richard H. Knee