Dyckia Pale Ryder

Dyckia 'Pale Ryder' is a terrestrial Bromeliad that is as unusual as it is graphic. This South American perennial, with its succulent-like appearance, forms a rosette of long, arched and shiny leaves in a silver-grey-lavender colour, bordered by numerous small fierce teeth. It spreads in small colonies of rosettes that eventually form a large and decorative cushion. Floral stems with small yellow-orange flowers emerge from mature rosettes in the summer. In a desert-style or contemporary rock garden, in a mild climate, this remarkably graphic plant attracts all attention. It will also thrive in a pot, to overwinter in colder regions.

Dyckia 'Pale Ryder' is related to the pineapple, to Fascicularia, and to Guzmania, for example. The Dyckia genus comprises about 120 botanical species native to arid regions of South America (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay). In their original regions, these perennials are adapted to a hot but highly contrasting climate, characterized by heavy seasonal rainfall followed by extremely dry conditions. In our climates, they will tolerate drought perfectly from October to April but will appreciate some periodic watering in the summer, during their growth period. They are plants that prefer poor, well-drained soils and can be more or less frost-tolerant. Unlike true succulents, Dyckias do not store water in their thick leaves.

Dyckia 'Pale Ryder' develops long, thick and rigid leaves with very spiny margins (be careful when handling), gathered in a flared and dense rosette. At maturity, this variety can reach 35-45cm (14-18in) in all directions. The foliage persists throughout the year. It is more or less silver depending on the amount of sunlight the plant receives. Each leaf is bordered by numerous small, white-silver curved teeth, which should be handled with caution. Each rosette will flower when mature, after a few years of cultivation. Its summer flowering is decorative: a floral stem rises above the foliage, on the periphery of the rosette, bearing small yellow-orange tube or bell-shaped flowers. In Dyckias, the rosette does not die after flowering. The hardiness of this 'Pale Ryder' variety is evaluated at -8°C (17.6°F) at its peak, in a well-drained, even dry soil.

This Dyckia 'Pale Ryder' is easier to grow in a pot than in the ground: the plant will benefit from the sun and rain from April to September outdoors, and it will spend the "bad season" sheltered from the cold, almost dry. In coastal areas, it is a magnificent plant for a sunny rock garden where it will find the conditions it appreciates. Its silhouette and colour allow for interesting associations in a collection of Mangaves, Agaves, or Aloes. This Dyckia structures the space and adds a very "xeric" charm to any decor. To accompany it, also consider Puyas, plants from arid areas that, like Dyckias, thrive in mild climates.