Bedhead bromeliad adds a burst of coppery color
Many gardeners are looking to add colorful foliage to partialshade areas of their garden. Annuals such as coleus work well; so do the great variety of colors available in the perennial heucheras.
One lesser-known selection available to add red tones to a shady plot is the bromeliad x cryptbergia. This hybrid cross between cryptanthus and billbergia produces rosettes of narrowly triangular, arching bronze-green leaves that are a coppery red in the center. A bit of morning sun intensifies the red tones, making this terrestrial bromeliad a striking addition to any garden.
Modest in size (a foot in diameter and somewhat lower in height), cryptbergias are easy to tuck into any bed. Use as an understory planting or as a colorful addition to a dry shade bed. Though chosen mainly for its red foliage and architectural interest, cryptbergia ‘Red Burst’ produces small white flowers in summer.
For me, part of this bromeliad’s charm is its messy appearance. Individual leaves come out at all angles, some crossing, sort of like what our hair looks like first thing in the morning. This bird’s-nest appearance distinguishes it from other similar bromeliads with their more symmetrical structure. It also has the advantage over the similarly messy dyckia of not producing sharp, thorny leaves.
Like many bromeliads, x cryptbergia will produce offsets, which can be left with the mother plant or separated in the spring for rooting elsewhere.