This epiphytic bromeliad has rosettes with stiff arching leaves and forms a clump. It has cross banded dark green long linear leaves and the small tube-shaped yellow flowers appear in a red sword-shaped flower head above the foliage during spring.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Vriesea splendens is naturally found from the island of Trinidad and adjacent northern South America growing in forests on the coast and into the mountains to an altitude of 2500 m (7,500ft). 

It prefers a warm humid wind protected semi-shade to shaded position and grows in moist composted leaf mould that is tending acidic and is frost and drought tender.

The Flaming Sword is grown for its foliage and flowers. It is planted in small or tropical gardens as a specimen or mass planted as an understory along borders or under trees. It is suitable for coastal or mountain regions establishing from division in one season and is commonly grown as a container plant or in trees and in cool climates under glass. ID 609

Vriesea (VREEZ-ee-a) splendens (SPLEN-dens)

Bromeliaceae (bro-mee-lee-AY-see-ee)