They do have some great ones. I just wish I didn't have to grow them in my small greenhouse. I can't have any outside except in summer shade if I'm around to keep the watering going.

Lin, those links were pure garden porn. So many pretties. My downfall is Tropiflora's Monday morning emails, if I ever got to their place I would be in big trouble.

Alice, you know I'm only a 20min. drive from Tropiflora but I have to restrain myself to visiting only when they have their "plant festivals" in spring and fall. Sometimes in summer there's a sale too but it's SO hot . . I don't always go.

The broms they sell at the festivals are amazingly well priced. Mostly bare-root offsets but I've never yet lost one. So, if you're coming over this way just time it so you'll hit a festival weekend. I honestly don't think I've ever paid full price for any of my broms. Most have been $6 to $8 and some have been $3.

(edited to add) I did come close when I was hoping to buy an A. Perez like your lovely one, though. They only had one and they had sold it by the time I got hold of them. (Phew, that was a close call!!)

Thank you Karen, @Plantmanager.

I get TropiFlora's emails too and it's probably a good thing that I don't live as close as Elaine does ... I'd for sure have to go to work full time to support my plant habit.

Since this thread is pretty active, I want to post photos of my bromeliad in hopes that someone can give me a general ID. I got it at my garden club meeting and have no other information on it. I planted it in the shade of a pine tree and it seems to be doing well there.

That one sure reminds me of one of the Red Pineapples. This one says variegated although I do not see any variegation.
Variegated Red Pineapple (Ananas comosus var. bracteatus 'Striatus')

Lin love that basket arrangement.

Sondra that looks like it could be some sort of Pineapple (Ananas), whatever it is nice coloring in the leaves.

I have a little green anole that came home with one of my bromeliads, so cute, hope the big brown ones don't find it.

Ooh, sweet green anole, Sherri. Get a picture if you can and maybe keep him inside your screened lanai? He will eat up bugs in there for you.

Pretty one, Sondra. I have no idea what it is but when/if it blooms that will give a much better chance at an ID.

ardesia said:That one sure reminds me of one of the Red Pineapples. This one says variegated although I do not see any variegation.
Variegated Red Pineapple (Ananas comosus var. bracteatus 'Striatus')

I found this info on Cold Sensitivity of Some Bromeliads: http://gardens.usf.edu/data/co...

I will try and get a photo of the anole, checked this morning and must be too cold, I usually see it in the later part of the day. I wish I could bring it in the screened room...But...my cats would do it in, they are in heaven when a lizard gets in the porch.

I have two pineapple plants both shown here: Pineapple (Ananas comosus var. erectifolius)

I may have them in the wrong place, neither said "Wild Pineapple". But I went with the tags: The variegated colorful one was a Lowe's Clearance rack and had a Monrovia tag: Red Spineless Pineapple (Ananas lucidus) but I will say the picture on the tag looked nothing like the plant I have, someone told me it looked like (lava Burst). The red and green one was from a private nursery and had a handwritten tag: (Ananas comosus var. erectifolius), which looks a lot like the one Alice posted.

Thank you for your comments. I googled Red Pineapple and saw some photos that do look a lot like my plant. I'm hoping that it will bloom at some point and we will be able to confirm its identity.

@sunkissed How big do those Pineapples get? They're gorgeous! I have a serious weakness for brightly colored or variegated foliage.

On the subject of Ananas here is a shot taken today of my one and only.






Ananas lucidus cultivar name unknown

Now that is what I call variegation.

@ScotTi, Scott that is gorgeous! I'm really loving the color of that Pineapple! Our database shows Ananas lucidus is a synonym for Pineapple (Ananas comosus var. erectifolius) so you should add your photos to the database!

It turned cold overnight. I'm going to be scrambling to move these broms out of this bed and into a hoophouse. Supposed to rain Tuesday. Most are in pots, but some are in ground.


Last year, I didn't have to take them out until December. Stuck them in fountain as outdoor Christmas tree.

We're expecting that cold front tomorrow, too Sandi. Orchid schlepping season will begin for me. If you have frost cloth, couldn't you just leave them in place and cover if it's just for a couple of nights? The ground must still be really warm.

What a shame you won't make your brom tree this year. But last fall really was exceptionally warm. I recall it was after Christmas that we finally were able to turn off the a/c. Our kids are coming for Thxgiving and hoping to swim, so while my pool is warm enough to want to get in there I fear the Gulf temperature of @ 70deg. is already a bit chilly. Oh well, we can still have fun on the beach without swimming.

I think they'd be okay covered if it wasn't for the wind blowing and chilly rain expected. We hope we have workers coming to replace fence sections today. It's nearly 11 and they haven't shown up. I figured I could get some help moving pots (for cookies).

Enjoy your company! We're traveling 3 miles for Thanksgiving with DD's family at new house.

Fence guys just showed up!