Fascicularia bicolor canaliculata

An interesting rosette forming plant from Chile which is completely hardy here in the UK. Belonging in a group of plants know as a bromeliads, these normally get a lot of their water and nutrient from water which settles in the centre of the crown. This one however grows as a normal plant in the ground, forming impressive evergreen rosettes with a greyish sheen to the lower surface of the leaves. These are around 1 cm wide but up to 30 cms or more long, toothed and form very attractive rosettes in the centre of which are the flowers. The form canaliculata has narrower leaves that the species.

  Here we have the main attraction, blue flowers surrounded by a bright red leaf colouration which lasts for weeks in the autumn and early winter.

 Easy in a sunny site and not too wet soil. The ssp. canaliculata is even hardier than the species.

Apologies for the quality of the photo, this was actually taken around 3 months after flowering and so the blue flowers were long gone, foliage is still very attractive.