Hi randg

Could be a x Neophytum of some sort, but I think I'll leave it to the experts.

All the best, Nev.

Well, since I spot a Tillandsia intermedia in the background, that plant could be a form of T. fasciculata. Just a stab in the dark.

Looks like Tillandsia tricolor to me. I don't recall seeing that at the Urban Garden Center, but I'll check the next time I'm there. T. tricolor is a reasonably common plant around these parts, and adapts as well to potted or groundcover growing as T. cyanea does. I'll try to take a pic of mine.

That could be it Lisa. What, if any, is the status of Tillandsias naturalizing over in the Islands?

Hard to get a good picture. I just have some big old overgrown clumps of it. The flower spikes are dried this time of year.

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There are actually pots under there somewhere. ;-)

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Just saw your comment, Gonz. The only naturalization I've seen is strictly localized, i.e. on roofs or trees in a particular yard or botanical garden, etc. I've never seen any Tills growing wild in natural locations, and that includes usneoides, which is pretty common in yards. Kind of surprising, really, since we have such a big problem with invasive species.

I suspect that if Guz. monostachia ever got introduced to some of the forested areas it might have the potential to spread quite a bit. I saw seedlings of that and Vr. gladioliflora absolutely carpeting the trees near the original bromeliad planting at Lyon Arboretum. Our local brom society started that garden about 30 years ago, but it has since reverted to a wild state. Some of the plantings didn't make it, but a few, like those two, show signs of colonization. It seems like only a matter of time before they spread out from there. That is a high rainfall locale, like much of the interior forest, probably too wet for most of the tillies to thrive.

Once again, I believe you identified it correctly Lisa. The bromeliaceae is planted in a raise bed within or close to the Hawaiian Alphabet Tree Garden section at Oahu Urban Garden Center. It's just a small clump and more dark-greenish than red color like in your pictures because it's mostly in the shades. How long does it take to have that bushy look? My plant seems a bit hesitant to grow and to produce pups.

I took a picture of the clump of plant at the OUGC before, but I couldn't find it on my archive disc.

Lisa you should come visit the OUGC next month (Saturday Feb. 13), or perhaps you could go as one of the local nurseries who will be there selling their plants. Last year's second Saturday of February (the big Plant Sale of OUGC) was my first time attending that kind of event. It was exciting to see different kinds of plants offered and I so badly wanted to buy them all, but I settled just buying few exciting plants. This time my wallet is ready for that event.

Yes, we'll be there, randg. My husband and I sell at that sale every year. We're the ones with the heliconias and gingers, as well as bromeliads. You can bring your wallet to our tables first! ;-)

That clump is well over 10 years old. Once yours blooms it should start pupping. It's pretty easy to grow, and will take sun or semi-shade, but of course it colors up best in full sun.