Dyckia ‘Cherry Coke’ a cv. platyphylla x ‘Carlsbad’ is a hardy sun loving bromeliad with graceful arching reddish cola toned foliage, and is topically interesting.
‘Cherry Coke’ can be finicky in attaining it’s best coloration and size due nutrient needs, seasonal variation, and overall light levels. However, when the conditions align, it can yield an award winning Head-Table plant that is stunning in form, size, and coloration, (see the FCBS site).
This hybrid was introduced by Tropiflora several years ago. ‘Cherry Coke’ proves to me that the initial naming of a hybrid can be crucial to it’s acceptance. I don’t consider this to be my favorite Dyckia, but more as a required starter plant to grow this genus. Polling the average society member to recite a Dyckia by name – you’d probably here ‘Cherry Coke’ as a response.
As with many released crosses it is possible to have several variants in circulation. I’d seen pictures on the web that don’t match mine and others that do. I can show pictures of my plant in bloom showing yellow petals, yellow flower bracts, primary bracts longer than the petals. And provide that I had acquired this from Michael’s Bromeliads, excepting the identity, knowing there are probably others growing the same clone, with this name, as mine.
Cheers, Greg – PSJPlants – Brevard County, FL (Space Coast)
