Dyckias

Dyckias are Bromeliads that mainly come from fairly dry areas of South America. Many grow on rocks. Some of them can make very good landscape plants, and some are mainly collector plants. They typically prefer full sun, and many are cold hardy down to the lower 20s, and some even to the upper teens. Dyckias do not die after they flower like most Bromeliads, but will flower every year. Dyckias will cluster over time, so one cluster may have 2 to 6 spikes filled with flowers at one time. The flower spikes are usually 2 to 3 feet tall, and the flowers are usually either red, orange, or yellow. I have experimented with 25 species and hybrids, and have found 3 that are best suited for the landscape.

	Dyckia "Cherry Coke" is a hybrid between D. platypylla and "Carlsbad" .I have found it to be very cold hardy and will tolerate temperatures in the upper teens.When grown in full sun it will get a dark red color, but kept in shade it will turn almost green. A single plant will attain a two foot spread, but a cluster can get much larger in time. The flowers are orange with an orange spike up to three feet tall.This has the best potential for landscape use, and gives a great color addition to any landscape. 3 gallon plants are $20 ...........................................................
	"La Rioja" is a location name for this undescribed plant from Argentina. It comes from a very xeric area, and grows very well in a sunny, dry condition. Each single plant can grow to have a 15 inch spread, but clusters can get much larger. In full sun these plants become strikingly silver. The flowers are orange with a reddish flower spike up to three feet tall. I have found these to tolerate temperatures into the upper teens. An excellent silver plant for the landscape. 3 gallon plants are $20 7 gallon clusters are $45
	Dyckia playphylla is a smaller plant that gets up to 12 inches wide. The leaves are much wider than most Dyckias, and can tolerate more shade. The tops of the leaves are green but they are white underneath. The flowers are yellow with spikes as long as 30 inches. I have found these to be cold hardy to 15F, but some burn can occur with a heavy frost if the plants are not under some cover. 3 gallon plants are $20