Sibella bromeliad
Light: Bright indirect light Height: 7-12 inches
Spread: 16-18 inches Hardiness: Zone 11
Origin: Brazil, this is a hybrid
Sibella bromeliad
( is a colorful, epiphytic tropical plant.
Unlike most plant species, which get their nutrients from soil, epiphytes get their sustenance through the air and rainwater.
The leaves of the Sibella are multi-colored, showcasing different shades of pinks and greens. At the top, the Sibella’s bracts (modified leaves) are a brilliant shade of raspberry pink with smatterings of darker purple spots. Beneath them is a layer of light green leaves with pink and purple splotches, followed by a layer of dark green leaves.
Each glossy leaf is about 9-12 inches long and edged with sharp spines.
This plant has a rosette structure — it grows upright with leaves and bracts arching outward — so it is best viewed looking down at it.
This plant’s tiny flowers, which are found inside the center cup and bloom for only a day, do not compare to the show of the bracts.
Sibella bromeliad will thrive in bright light and high humidity. Only the roots should be watered (not the leaf cup).
Visit Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse to see Sibella bromeliads amid the “Orchids: Utopia” exhibition.