Description

General aspect and origins - Billbergia nutans, also known as queen's tears or friendship plant, is a bromeliad which is native to Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. It has long narrow leaves that are olive-green, and it can be up to 1.5 ft (50 cm) tall, and 1.5 ft to 3 ft (0.5-1 m) wide. Showy pink, green and yellow inflorescences appear in spring.
Leaves - Billbergia nutans has long narrow leaves that are olive-green.
Flowers - This bromeliad has striking inflorescences, with pink bracts, green and blue drooping tubular flowers, and bright yellow pollen. The flowers are relatively short-lived for bromeliads, and last a few weeks only.

Culture

Billbergia nutans is a relatively frost hardy bromeliad, as it can withstand brief negative temperatures down to 22°F/24°F (-5°C to -6°C). This plant can thus be grown in USDA zones 9a and warmer.
Soil - Billbergia nutans prefers a well-drained ground.

Propagation

This plant can be easily propagated in spring by cluster division.