Family Bromeliaceae.
Originating from Chile.
Fearsome yet elegantly recurved evergreen leaves, and other-wordly, huge flower spikes make this species an unmissable architectural statement in coastal and Mediterranean-style gardens. Their rosettes of silver/green leaves are armed with sharp recurved spines on their margins and form slowly-spreading, mound-shaped clumps from which the spectacular, alien-looking flower spikes emerge, bearing multitudes of emerald green/teal and black flowers, with orange or yellow stamens. Once seen, never forgotten. Hardy only in southern and coastal regions, it should be grown in free-draining soil in full sun, or in pots.
Height and spread after 5 – 10 years 1.5m x 1m.
