Ochagavia litoralis

Ochagavia litoralis is a stunning terrestrial Bromeliad from central Chile ocurring along coastal habitats with two main populations distributed from Valparaíso down to San Antonio and from Topocalma down to Tanumé with smaller scattered populations reaching further inland from San Antonio down to Placilla. Typically it perches on rocky outcrops and coastal cliffs, its clumping-forming habit creating large colonies. 

It should ideally be situated in a warm sheltered location perched on a rock surface to mimic its habitat in the wild or - if grown in a container - given a very free-draining substrate with plently of grit and perlite. It needs little water during the growing seaon and none at all in the winter. It will take temperatures down to around -5C but sensibly such a rare and valuable plant should be fleeced and if very wet weather persists, provided with a rain-shelter.

It is a plantman's plant... a rarely available Bromeliad for the collection and until you have successfully propagated offsets you may wish to keep it safe under glass for a few winters. Even under glass, it is sensible to cover it with fleece during extended periods of sub-zero temperatures.

Ochagavia litoralis produces a large inflorescence similar to Ochavagia carnea with small pink flowers and orange anthers. During the flowering period the greyish-green foliage closest to the inflorescence turns pinkish, in the same way that the foliage of Fascicularia bicolor turns red when it flowers.

Very limited quantities.