PlantFiles: Queen’s Tears, Friendship Plant, Hardy Queen's Tears, Hardy Friendship Plant
Billbergia nutans

This beauty is alive & well in beautiful Beaufort SC.
Truly is much hardier than indicated. Has been outside for years in heat & cold & is a continual performer.

This plant has survived in pots over the winter with minimal protection for many years, an unheated, unsealed shadehouse. It is hardier than stated although it could die if planted out due to the cold, wet soil we have for 9 months of the year.

I received a small starter plant from a garden in Gilroy, California. In a couple of years in our Zone 9a garden, it has propagated into large mats which I divided and planted here and there in the garden as well as in a couple of terra cotta containers. They all survived unprotected for an unusually cold week where temperatures dropped to about 20 and stayed in the mid 30s. In March, they began to bloom with flower stalks appearing throughout the mounds. The plants receive moderate water and absolutely no feeding. They seem to enjoy neglect.

This plant has survived our wind, rain and frosts (28 degrees Fahrenheit ) For 3 years in a pot outside. The slugs and snails have not bothered it and the unusual blooms make it a favorite in the garden.

The humming birds like it too!

Most of the Billbergia species are native to Brazil; however, they also occur from Mexico south and down the Atlantic coast to Argentina. A few may also occur along the Pacific coast to Peru. The pink, blue and green flowers hang from the ends of this flower spike with each petal tightly recurved and edged in purple. It blooms at the end of January through February in the San Antonio area. The petal tips of the Billbergia nutans var. nutans blooms have hairs which are difficult to see because they are very small. The blooms exude a very sticky clear nectar which forms visible droplets. These droplets, plus the royal purple of the bloom edging, are the reasons that the plant is commonly called "queen's tears". It is also commonly called "friendship plant" because it readily produces offsets which may be divided from the mother plants and shared with others.

It needs partial shade to bright indirect light and is a terestrial bromeliad that is said to be able to withstand temperatures to the lower 20s (F). However, I am afraid I will lose the plants at this temperature so I place them in my greenhouse when hard freezes are expected. I plan to plant a few offsets in the ground this spring and leave them there through next winter to determine their hardiness. One of my neighbors left his out when the temperature fell to 22 degrees (F). It looks fine and is still blooming.

A good soil mix for this plant is composed of 3 parts peat moss to 2 parts sand to 1 part loam. The soil should be allowed to dry out between waterings. I sprinkle the leaves with water so that it can run into the vass of the plants. The plant doesn't require much care and seems to be able to withstand neglect.

Note: When working with the plants, I have a burning, itching allergic skin reaction which lasts for a few hours. No blisters are formed.

Excellent plant here in sandy coastal garden (zone 9a)

My aunt had this plant in Sunland, California. She gave me a shoot and I 've had plants multiplying for years. Some shoots have gone to Washington and Texas and done well in both places. I didn't even know what it was for years, but saw its picture in a Reader's Digest plant volume. My vast family (the plants reproduce really well) blooms around February here in Oak View (near Ventura -- south of Santa Barbara). I've given away dozens and dozens of the plants...and think maybe that's why it was called a friendship plant. So unusually beautiful!

I hear that after the mother plant blooms,she dies?
I live in North Texas and my Plant gets exposure from the south window, with a flourescent light above. I have never seen it bloom. Am i doing something wrong?

Queen's Tears also makes a very nice hanging container plant - They seem to be quite tough - I protect them from the wind in winter but they seem capable of handling temperatures down to about 25 F.

Love this plant!
Re:Propogation
Here's what I found about seeds from:
http://www.junglecloud.com

"Propagation is usually done by taking rooted offshoots or ‘Pups’ from the original plants. These offshoots occur from the rhizomes at the base of the leaves. Leave the pups on the plant until they reach at least one third of the height of the original urn, as very young pups rarely develop roots. Staking may be necessary until they have developed a stronger root system. Seed grown plants are also possible, but this method is usually used only for raising new hybrids. We have discovered that sowing the seed on finely chopped, moist sphagnum moss is the most successful. To keep the air permanently moist around the seed, place a sheet of glass, or a plastic bag, over the top of the container. Leave in position until the plants have grown big enough to survive on their own. Keep them out of direct sunshine while the plastic bag or glass is in place or they will cook."

i have just recieved this plant from a friend that lives in Garden Grove,California. She told me that she has had this plant since the late 60's or early 70's and has moved the plant around from house to house in the general area of orange county and it has always done well for her / it is all across the North side of her home and is quite beautiful when it blooms

Edgewood, Washington
Had this great bromelaid years ago and just loved it. It would bloom every year around December. Think it was partly do to the amount of light it was recieving. It would bloom and then the mother plant would produce "pups" to grow and bloom the next year. Plant was bug free and problem free. Just wish I had a start of it again.

I also bought a 2" potted plant 5 years ago and have given away many offshoots of it over the years. (It is not invasive, sending out just enough for sharing). The blooms make a very interesting conversation piece in floral arrangements. I have it planted outdoors in my part of California (9b). It shows frost stress, but comes right back in the spring. It has bloomed every year and is a fairly maintenance free plant.

My Bilgergia lives at my office and bloomed in December! It likes "Eleanor's VF-11" added to it's water, and seems to bloom more readily when it is used.

my husband bought my queen's tears five years ago in a two inch pot. the longest leaf is 37"! it hasn't bloomed yet but it is a real unusual plant, kind of silvery on top side and striped on the back, and spines all down the whole length of the plant. going in ouch! coming out ok. it has put out pups that are as big as the original start. will have to see if can download photo later. It is one of my favorite plants!