It is a terrestrial growing bromeliad known as Cryptanthus. There are many, many hybrids and cultivars, and I am not growing/collecting them to be able to say which one this is. They are not the easiest to grow here in our cool coastal California climate outdoors, as they prefer heat and humidity and dry winters to perform well outdoors. Many more people grow these in Texas and the Southeast USA, than here in California...

Wow, that was fast! Thanks tons.

I guess it's fortunate that I'm in Texas. We have plenty of hot and humid.

That appears to be Crypt. fosterianus.

As bahia said, they are terrestrial. They like a shadier location than many broms (mine do better underneath the tables than on top of them), and do best if they're kept somewhat moist. I wouldn't say they like dry winters, just *warm* ones. ;-)

Lisa,
I should qualify that remark about "dry" winters, which was meant to apply to our local climate, which is winter rains with cold weather, which they distinctly do not like. In other locations outside California with otherwise similar mild, not freezing winters, the generally drier winter weather without all that rain is better for Cryptanthus than our wet winters are. They tend to rot out here in winter if grown outdoors, unless kept dry...

bahia, I remember Bay Area winters and I wouldn't try to grow most bromeliads outdoors in them! Here winters are just as wet, but it doesn't get below 60F at night, and the Crypts and others do just fine and don't rot.

I've found my Crypts grow bigger and better in a higher moisture-holding media than I'd use for the epiphytes, like sphagnum moss or coarse peat. I even have a friend who grows them by perching them in the mouth of bottles of water with the base immersed. The roots grow right into the water, kind of like hydroponics. I doubt you could do that with the epiphytic ones.

You guys are an amazing wealth of info. Thanks.

It's currently planted in sand, at least, that's what I can see. From some reading it seems that it may like a little better soil than that and something that would hold moisture better. I'll leave it in the pot so I can bring it inside in the winter. It's such a neat plant with great color and texture. My reading indicates that it can get quite a bit bigger than it is now (maybe 6" across), so a bigger, nicer pot and better soil and hopefully I'll be set.

Thanks for all of your help.