Also known as flaming sword, this plant from Venezuela is grown for both its flowers and foliage. The leaves are 16 in. (40 cm) long and art: dark green with broad, dark purple- brown crossbands.

The flower spike grows to about 2 ft. (60 cm) high and consists of a flattened, blade-shaped head of tightly-compressed, scarlet bracts, each up to 3 in. (8 cm) long. The yellow flowers, about 2 in. (5 cm) long, emerge from between the bracts. They are fairly short-lived, but the hard flower head and colored bracts persist for several weeks.

Size: Height to 3 ft. (1 m) in flower.

Light: Direct sunlight, except at noon in summer.

Temperature: Normal room.

Moisture: Keep the central cup filled.

Feeding: Provide half-strength liquid fertilizer once a month, pouring It into both cup and potting soil.

Propagation: Detach 3—6 in. (7—15 cm) offsets from the plant’s base, not from leaf axils, using a sharp knife. Pot singly and enclose in a plastic bag. Rooting should take about six weeks.

Special needs: After flowering, the individual rosette dies, so when taking material for propagation make sure that a replacement for the parent plant is left.