Fascicularia pitcairnifolia

Description

Fascicularia pitcairnifolia is a striking, evergreen terrestial bromeliad from Southern Chile and Argentina which forms a rosette of deep green spiky leaves the centre of which becomes a pale blue whilst the inner leaves take on a bright scarlet colour as the plant prepares to flower. The small flowers which form at the heart of the leaves are a brilliant, metallic blue. Closely related to it’s more common cousin Fascicularia bicolor but differing by having much larger broader leaves which can grow up to 100cm long the whole plant forming very impressive swirls of arching leaves. Being a tough high altitude plant in it’s native environment Fascicularia pitcairnifolia is well adapted to cope with cool wet climates being tolerant of both shade and sun including coastal conditions. Considered to be not quiet as hardy as Fascicularia bicolor, pitcairnifolia fourishes here in West Sussex planted against the side of a south facing wall shaded by a rather large Tetrapanax ‘Rex’ for most of the year. I’ve also seen it planted en-masse to great effect under evergreen oaks in fairly deep shade so a very adaptable plant for milder regions just avoid really cold or waterlogged spots and be prepared for the shocking display of colour when it it flowers.