Get Creative With Bromeliads for the Holidays

For this article, we will focus on bromeliads that are ideal for holiday decoration and gift giving: Neoregelia Bromeliads and Guzmania Bromeliads.

Neoregelia bromeliads are simply stunning! When you visit a Garden Center and they have a good collection of bromeliads, you will be drawn to a display of their vibrant colors including bright pinks, deep purples, bright reds, and variegated and marbled patterns. The flowers are small nestled deep inside the cup or vase and are often blue or purple. But it is the foliage or its leaves that makes Neoregelia bromeliads perfect for the holidays! 

Guzmania bromeliads are colorful and dramatic – another perfect addition to your list of must-haves for the holidays. A small grouping can light up a hallway or an entryway. Guzmania Lingulata is the most common and widely cultivated and the kind you will find at your local garden center. It is known for its vibrant and long-lasting bracts, which come in various colors, including shades of red, orange, and yellow. 

Guzmania is also called the scarlet star with its long, flat glossy green leaves with smooth edges or margins. The leaves come together to form a star shape in the middle which is commonly mistaken as the flower on the plant – but is actually a grouping of modified leaves, called bracts. They are famous for their brilliant neon pink or red bracts but also come in orange, purple, and yellow and these last for several months.

Bromeliads make a great choice for holiday décor: They require little maintenance, no need to water often, and you can arrange them anywhere in the house, even in places with little indirect lighting. And after the holidays, you can transfer them to the patio, front door area or plant them outside in a shady location. 

Did you know that the pineapple is a member of the bromeliad family? According to Bromeliad history, 500+ years ago, Columbus introduced the pineapple (annas comosus) to Spain in 1643. He found that it was cultivated by Carib Indians in the West Indies. It is the only Bromeliad that produces a fruit that can be eaten, and pineapple is now among the world’s most popular tropical fruit.

At the Naples Botanical stands a beautiful display of an untraditional Christmas Tree using 360 potted neoregelia bromeliads – highlighting its versatility. It looks stunning lit up at night, and during the daytime, you get to enjoy the foliage up close. 

“O Christmas tree O Christmas tree – how lovely are your branches” the lyrics might not roll as easy on the tongue with bromeliads on its branches, but the message is the same, “each year you bring us delight.”