{"product_id":"fascicularia-bicolor","title":"Fascicularia bicolor","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eFascicularia bicolor\u003c\/strong\u003e, or \u003cstrong\u003ehardy bromeliad\u003c\/strong\u003e (also known as the \u003cstrong\u003ecrimson bromeliad\u003c\/strong\u003e), 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRated 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, \u003cstrong\u003ewet\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun, in the hottest, brightest, most sheltered spot you have. Good light brings out the silver foliage and the crimson central flush.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e gritty, free-draining loam or sand, on a slope, raised bed or gravel bank. Sharp drainage matters far more than fertility.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a slow-spreading clump reaching around 0.4 to 0.5 m tall and up to 1 m across over 5 to 10 years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater 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 \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/architectural-foliage\"\u003earchitectural foliage\u003c\/a\u003e for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry or gravel garden\u003c\/a\u003e, and its salt tolerance suits it to \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed gardens\u003c\/a\u003e. It is equally happy in a container: grow it in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003ea pot of gritty compost\u003c\/a\u003e that you can move into the rain shadow of a wall for winter. Pair it with other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e such as our \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trachycarpus-fortunei\"\u003eTrachycarpus fortunei\u003c\/a\u003e for a bold, jungle-meets-Mediterranean scheme, and read our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from hardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e through the seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":57974379282815,"sku":"FASCBICO9","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/iStock-1280877688.jpg?v=1784326566","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/fascicularia-bicolor","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}