Bromeliads. They’re everywhere.

Giant century plants, spike-leafed agaves, aloe veras and more. Without a doubt, these terrestrial Bromeliads help create a dramatic backdrop in the Arizona desert.

You’ll also find more than 2,000 different species of Bromeliads in Costa Rica. Some are terrestrial such as the pineapple, but, the majority are epiphytes, or air plants. These grow hard, wiry roots to attach themselves to trees and rocks giving the appearance of a parasite. They’re not. They find, and store, their own food and water. The water is stored at the base of their rosette leaves making a great home for tiny poison dart frogs and other insects.

Plant leaves might be yellow, green, red, striped, spotted and variegated in any number of different patterns. The flowers are brilliantly colored and exotic. We became aware of the enormous variety of Bromeliads that grow in our region when we visited a local beach resort, Banana Azul (see photo). Their elaborately landscaped gardens on Playa Negra in Puerto Viejo feature all types of Bromeliads. This was the inspiration we needed to begin our own collection. With the help of some “volunteer” plants that began to grow at the bottom of a tree in our yard, and the addition of another “store-bought” one, we are off to a good start. If all goes well I will add many more photos in the future. Of Bromeliads and poison dart frogs…I hope.