Billbergia pyramidalis (Flaming Torch)

Native to northern and eastern Brazil, Venezuela, French Guiana, Cuba, and the Lesser Antilles, this perennial bromeliad grows on trees, rocks, or the forest floor. Flowering plants reach about 16 to 20 inches tall. Its upright flower head carries red to purple-red flowers, often tipped in blue, above pink or red bracts. Clumps can flower together in a brief, colorful display. The rosettes collect rainwater that can harbor mosquito larvae. It produces fleshy berries and spreads through offsets, making it useful as a tropical groundcover. It has been introduced to Mauritius, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago. Photographed in Florida.