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The shop is now closed. The listing here is for information only. Please see the Home Page for more information.
The shop is now closed. The listing here is for information only. Please see the Home Page for more information.
| Billbergia nutans | ||||||||||||
| Queen's tears, Friendship plant | ||||||||||||
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| A bromeliad native to South America, the Friendship plant is so called because it produces side shoots which can be removed and grown on give to friends and family. The flowers are a kaleidoscope of pink, green, purple and yellow. They are evergreen perennials, generally quite forgiving of cold - mine survive well over the winter in an insulated but unheated greenhouse, and spend the rest of the year outside in dappled sunshine, but they can also be kept indoors in a spot out of direct sunlight. Having said this, I have heard that they will withstand quite cold winters outside (down to -14C) and will be experimenting to see if this is true! There is another variety, Billbergia windii, has broader leaves and is definitely NOT frost-hardy. | ||||||||||||
| Sowing and/or growing instructions | ||||||||||||
| Requires little care - keep the rosettes filled with water. Plants can be kept indoors, but are happy outside in semi-shade during the summer months. Feed occasionally during the growing season. Side shoots are produced regularly (and the main plant dies back), These can be removed, repotted and passed on to others, making the plant deserving of its common name, 'Friendship plant'! Orchid or bromeliad compost is recommended, but one part of ordinary soil or compost mixed with two parts of perlite will do just as well. |
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| Mirabilis jalapa | Matricaria recutita syn. chamomilla | Viola cornuta 'Back to Black' | Mirabilis longiflora | Leptinella Syn. Cotula squalida 'Platt's Black' |
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