Aechmea 'Tropic Torch Red' VIPP 4-8-19 This is a beautiful helicoid

This is a beautiful helicoid species from an undisclosed locality in Colombia

A large growing Cryptanthus hybrid by Carole Richtmyer is a cultivar of (‘Nancy’ x ‘Peaches’) x argyrophyllus

large-growing species

25 inches at the base

Noted Gesneriad expert Hans Wiehler once commented on this clone as being a Columnea mimic

Aechmea 'Tropic Torch Red' VIPP 4-8-19 This is a beautiful helicoidThe original Tropic Torch was an early Skotak hybrid of beeriana x chantinii that resulted in a colorful, fairly large plant with a very large head of dense, vividly red colored branches and showy wide bracts. The foliage gray colored with faint banding in a stiff upright rosette to about 36 x 36 inches. This form has nice red foliage, with a slight grayish tint, but the same vivid red inflorescence, a selection or new cross (?) by Bullis Bromeliads.