Fascicularia bicolor Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Fascicularia bicolor — 9cm / 0.5L9cm / 0.5L
Hardy Bromeliad (Crimson Bromeliad)

Fascicularia bicolor

£11.99
Protect from hard frostSun-lovingEvergreen
Pot size
9cm / 0.5L £11.99

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Description

The Fascicularia bicolor, or hardy bromeliad (also known as the crimson bromeliad), is one of the most exotic-looking plants you can grow outdoors in Britain. It forms an architectural evergreen rosette of narrow, spiny, silver-green leaves, and as late summer arrives the whole centre flushes vivid crimson while a cluster of powder-blue flowers opens deep inside the rosette. It is a true bromeliad from Chile, yet tough enough for a hot, sharply drained, sheltered spot or a large pot, and it revels in mild coastal gardens.

Rated RHS H3, this is a borderline-hardy exotic rather than a fully hardy one, and understanding why matters. Frost by itself seldom does the damage; it is a cold, wet winter that catches it out. Waterlogged soil, and rain pooling in the rosette, will rot the plant well before frost does, so sharp winter drainage is essential. Grown on a sunny bank, in a gravel garden or in a pot of gritty compost, it comes through UK winters far better than its tropical looks suggest. In colder or wetter gardens, keep it in a container so you can move it under cover for the worst of the wet.

Water through the first summer or two to establish, then leave it largely to its own devices, as mature clumps are impressively drought tolerant and thrive in a hot, dry corner. Its low, spiny rosette makes superb architectural foliage for a dry or gravel garden, and its salt tolerance suits it to coastal and exposed gardens. It is equally happy in a container: grow it in a pot of gritty compost that you can move into the rain shadow of a wall for winter. Pair it with other hardy exotics such as our Trachycarpus fortunei for a bold, jungle-meets-Mediterranean scheme, and read our guide on what to expect from hardy exotics through the seasons.

Every Fascicularia bicolor we supply is nursery-grown, selected for a healthy, well-coloured rosette and a strong root system, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Hardy Bromeliad (Crimson Bromeliad)

Plant me in full sun and protect me when hard frost threatens.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Hardy Bromeliad (Crimson Bromeliad)

Fascicularia bicolor needs full sun and well-drained soil. It is half-hardy to around −5°C and needs protection from hard frost.

Good for

Architectural Coastal & Exposed Dry & Gravel Gardens Pots & Containers

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H3 · Semi-hardy · down to around −5°C

borderline hardy to about -5C in mild and coastal areas. It is a wet winter, more than a cold one, that puts it at risk, so keep it dry from autumn to spring.

Position

Full sunSouth-facingWest-facingEast-facingSheltered

full sun, in the hottest, brightest, most sheltered spot you have. Good light brings out the silver foliage and the crimson central flush.

Soil

LoamSandWell-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH

gritty, free-draining loam or sand, on a slope, raised bed or gravel bank. Sharp drainage matters far more than fertility.

Watering

Water through the first summer or two to settle the roots, letting the soil dry between waterings. Established clumps are very drought tolerant and thrive on neglect. The golden rule is to keep it on the dry side, especially from autumn to spring, when standing wet is far more dangerous than cold. Avoid overhead watering that pools in the rosette over winter. Read moreShow less

Water through the first summer or two to settle the roots, letting the soil dry between waterings. Established clumps are very drought tolerant and thrive on neglect. The golden rule is to keep it on the dry side, especially from autumn to spring, when standing wet is far more dangerous than cold. Avoid overhead watering that pools in the rosette over winter.

Mature size

Height0.4-0.5 m
Spread0.6-1 m

Reaches full size in 5-10 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Flowering

Jul-Aug · Blue

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

The flowered rosette dies after blooming, so cut it out at the base. Otherwise no pruning beyond removing dead leaves from the clump.

Toxicity

No reported chemical toxicity to people or pets. The rigid, spiny-toothed leaf margins are sharp, however, and can scratch or prick skin, so site the plant away from paths and wear gloves when handling it.

Native range

Central Chile

Family

Bromeliaceae

Also known as

Fascicularia bicolor

Genus

Fascicularia
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fascicularia bicolor hardy in the UK?

Yes, within limits. It is rated RHS H3, which makes it borderline hardy: reliably evergreen outdoors in mild and coastal gardens down to around -5C, but at risk in cold, wet inland winters. The single biggest factor is drainage rather than temperature, so grow it somewhere sharply drained. In colder areas treat it as one of the more tender hardy exotics and keep it in a pot you can shelter.

Why does Fascicularia bicolor die over winter?

Almost always because of wet, not cold. This Chilean bromeliad copes with frost far better than it copes with waterlogged soil or rain collecting in the rosette, both of which rot the crown. Plant it on a slope, raised bed or gravel bank with sharp drainage, keep it dry from autumn to spring, and avoid overhead watering in winter.

Where is the best place to plant Fascicularia bicolor?

Give it the hottest, sunniest, most sheltered spot in the garden, ideally at the top of a free-draining bank or in a gravel garden where water never sits. A south or west-facing position against a warm wall is ideal, and its salt tolerance makes it excellent for coastal and exposed gardens.

Can you grow Fascicularia bicolor in a pot?

Yes, and in colder or wetter gardens a pot is the safest option. Use a gritty, free-draining, terrestrial-bromeliad or cactus-style compost, keep it in full sun, and move the container into the rain shadow of a wall or under cover for winter so it never sits wet. It is one of our best architectural plants for pots and containers.

When does Fascicularia bicolor flower and turn red?

In summer, usually from around July into August. As each mature rosette prepares to flower, its innermost leaves flush vivid crimson and a dense cluster of powder-blue flowers with ivory bracts opens deep in the centre. Full sun and a hot, dry position encourage the strongest colour, and for the rest of the year it stays a striking piece of silver-green architectural foliage.

Is Fascicularia bicolor safe around pets and children?

There is no reported chemical toxicity to people or pets, so it is not considered a poisonous plant. The one caution is physical rather than chemical: the rigid leaves have sharp, spiny-toothed edges that can scratch, so plant it away from paths and busy areas and wear gloves when handling it.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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£11.99