Currently 20cm - The olive green leaves of this hardy bromeliad are tipped with red/pink. Underside is maroon with white cross bands. The short, inconspicuous, blue flower head appears nestled within this rosette. Forming large clumps due to abundant offsets. Painted Fingernail is tough and well-suited to use as a groundcover.
Very hardy and beautiful, bromeliads handle life differently than other plants. Most are epiphytic, their roots are little more than supports or hold-fasts. Their leaves do most of the work. The leaves form a tank to collect and hold moisture. These tanks also catch the leaves discarded by the trees towering over them. As the detritus decays, the bromeliad leaves absorb the nutrients. Bromeliads are adapted to making do with few resources and they do it very well. ;