Bold Bromeliad Brings the Beauty of the Rainforest
to Any Home Décor

(San Diego, CA) -- From bedposts and cookie jars to pillows and drapery, the exotic shape of the Pineapple has livened up American homes for decades. Now its compelling cousin, the Bromeliad, is lending its flair and versatility to interior spaces. Deliciously intense and with an array of juicy color choices, the Bromeliad thrives in tropical rainforests, clinging to trees or rocks or nestled on the ground. Bring it indoors, and it makes a beautiful design element within any home décor theme.

“The Bromeliad is very versatile. It can look contemporary, retro or even country. You can dress it up for the occasion. It’s a true chameleon,” says Dutch floral designer and educator René van Rems AIFD, founder of René van Rems International in Vista, California.
Out of about 3,000 species of Bromeliad, there are more than 100 varieties available for the home and garden at retail stores and garden centers. Guzmania is one of the most popular, according to Kent’s Bromeliads, the largest Bromeliad grower in the United States.
“Guzmania is very fashionable as a house plant. It has a real presence and comes in many vibrant colors,” says Michael Kent, who runs the Vista, California-based family business with his brothers Larry and Jeff Kent.

Guzmania is tall with shiny leaves. Colorful bracts (leaves) shoot up from its center. Like all Bromeliads, the color comes in the foliage, not the flower — one reason it offers color for months at a time and makes it a natural as a house-plant.

Ease of care is another plus that makes the Bromeliad ideal for the indoors. “Bromeliads are like goldfish—they don’t require much. Just feed and water them once in a while, and they thrive. And they’re phenomenal in low light areas, so they’re perfect for interiors,” says van Rems.

The Bromeliad can be adapted to fit any décor. “The beauty of this plant is that it has no gender or age barriers. Unlike chrysanthemums or mums, which were your grandmother’s favorite, Bromeliads are so universal in appeal, they fit anywhere and anyone,” van Rems explains.

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