It is a tough hardy tubular shaped plant heavily festooned with silver trichomes in a distinctive banded pattern that boldly contrasts with the leaf pigments.

The tube form is about 500 - 600mm high and retains a reservoir of water in the tube.

The plant produces a brilliant red pink pendulous inflorescence with a series of small blue flowers, on whose nectar honey eaters such as the Eastern Spinebill feed.

[3] This species is native to Brazil.

This Bromelioideae article is a stub.