Bromeliads
Botanical names: There are at least 50 genera in the bromeliad family, with at least 3,000 species and 6,000 cultivars. The most popular genera are listed here.
Common names: Bromeliad, vase plant, foolproof plant, queen's tears, air plant and more.
Mature size: Varies, depending on the cultivar. The "hanging mosses" of the South are actually clumps of tiny air plants, while the enormous Puya raimondii can reach over 30 feet tall.
Feeding: Feed bromeliads with a diluted orchid fertilizer or slow-release fertilizer. Highly colored and mottled specimens look best when fertilized sparingly.
Planting and designing with bromeliads couldn't be easier. Since most have limited root systems, they're relatively easy to dig up and relocate as needed, which is especially useful for growers who experience freezes in winter.
Everyone deserves to have at least one bromeliad on a windowsill or in a garden.