Vriesea Splendide - - Flaming sword plant

The Vriesea 'Splendide' is a houseplant that stands out for its striped foliage and its spectacular bright red flowering. Its green leaves marked with dark red transverse bands form an elegant rosette, while its sword-shaped inflorescence can reach up to 1.20 m. With proper care, this exceptional variety will bring all the charm of the tropics into your home!

The Vriesea 'Splendide' is a hybrid variety belonging to the Bromeliaceae family. This cultivar was obtained by crossing two botanical species: Vriesea splendens and V. glutinosa. It was created by the Belgian hybridiser DeMeyer. This epiphytic perennial plant has slow growth, reaching a height of 40 to 60 cm at maturity for the foliage. The leathery-textured leaves, dark green and adorned with reddish transverse bands, measure approximately 40 cm in length and 10 cm in width. They form a spiralled evergreen rosette. The flowering, which usually occurs in summer, is absolutely remarkable. The inflorescence takes the form of a flat, erect, ramified spike, shaped like a "plume", in bright red, which can rise up to 1.20 m above the foliage. The colourful bracts surround rather inconspicuous small yellow flowers. This flowering can remain decorative for several months. Like many bromeliads, the Vriesea 'Splendide' is a semelparous plant, meaning its main rosette dies after flowering. However, before withering, the plant usually produces several offsets at its base, ensuring its succession. These offsets can be separated and replanted to give rise to new plants.
For indoor cultivation, the Vriesea 'Splendide' requires exposure to bright light, while being protected from direct sunlight, which could damage its foliage. Moderate to high ambient humidity reflects its original tropical habitat well. The ideal temperature ranges between 18 and 24 °C. This plant deteriorates below 13 °C.

The genus Vriesea includes around 280 species of tropical herbaceous perennial plants, native mainly to the tropical forests of Central and South America. These plants are often epiphytic, growing on other plants without being parasitic. They thrive in humid environments, benefiting from filtered light under the dense canopy of tropical forests. The genus name Vriesea pays tribute to the Dutch botanist Willem Hendrik de Vriese (1806-1862), recognised for his contributions to botany and the study of tropical plants.

The Vriesea 'Splendide' will look stunning in a bright living room or a well-lit office. Placed near a window with a sheer curtain, this plant catches the eye. To showcase it, place it on a shelf or a light-coloured wooden pedestal to play with natural contrasts, or pair it with containers in neutral tones. Its style suits contemporary or "winter garden" décor, and it will also thrive in a bright bathroom where humidity will promote its well-being. Place it alongside other vriesea with different colours such as 'Madonna' and 'Favoriet', as well as with Guzmania like 'Alerta' with its very bright pink bracts.