It would be a few years before it gets to those dimentions I would imagine. Lovely flower.

I have the Bromelia balansae, which is very similar in appearance and growth habits. Not only are they large and prickly, but they send out a lot of pups by underground stolons. They will become an impenetrable thicket in no time.

They do grow fast. I have the serra varigata starting to bloom now for the first time will post pictures tomorrow. Wonder what I could cross with that?

Bromelia pinquin quickly naturalizes in any encouraging environment. Bodiggly was right - they spread like wildfire. This bromeliad is used as cattle fencing in parts of South America - a friend of ours took the ones we dug up and planted them under his teenage daughter's window.

If you want to keep and grow this bromeliad, do it in a container and do not place the container directly on the ground. If you think bamboo is invasive, this stuff has is brutal to remove once it gets established.

Hi Nev,

The fence went in yesterday - YaYYYY! I haven't worked out how to shut the gate yet (automatic, but power not yet run out ot it) so the deer can still get in, but after 18 years, I'm just getting sooooo close.

Even post-fence (sorry) that Bromelia pinguin looks fun, although I think one-only would do the trick. I might take you up on your offer - thanks for the thought.

Cheers, Paul

Hi Paul,

Glad to see your "deer proofing" is almost complete.

Of course you realise that once the fence (and gate) are completed we will be expecting even bigger and better things from you.

I've some spare seeds of Bromelia pinguin if you want to give them a try.

All the best, Nev.