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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Bromeliaceae (Bromeliads) |
| Origin: Brazil (South America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Orange |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Synonyms: [Dyckia velascana, Hort.] |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F |
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Dyckia floribunda 'La Rioja' (Silver Starfish) - An attractive terrestrial bromeliad that grows as a cluster under 1 foot tall with open rosettes with 12 to 18 inch long recurved leaves that have leaves that are whitened by leaf-scales and leaf tips with pink to purple tones and the leaf margins are adorned with well-spaced short stiff teeth. In spring and summer arise the inflorescence to 18 inches above the foliage with a terminal panicle of yellow flowers. Plant in full to part sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally to infrequently. Hardy to around 15°F. A very interesting and attractive plant for containers or in the succulent garden where it can make a nice attractive low growing specimen plant or small scale ground cover. This species has a wide distribution through central and northern Argentina. We originally received this plant under the valid name Dyckia velascana from both the Huntington Botanic Garden and the Ruth Bancroft Garden. Both received the plant from Inge Hoffmann, who collected seed of it at a location between Famatina and Tinogasta in the province of La Rioja in Argentina in 1983. The Huntington Botanic Garden accessioned it as HBG#49590 and it was a 1987 International Succulent Introduction as Dyckia sp. ISI#1750. Since it lacked a specific name it was called 'La Rioja' (from the location in Argentina where it was collected) and also Silver Starfish by those who grew it and later it was suggested that it had affinities to Dyckia velascana. John Trager, succulent curator at the Huntington Botanic Garden, notified us that it was determined to be a form of Dyckia floribunda by the late Harry Luther, Selby Botanical Gardens "Mr. Bromeliad" and this is the name we use with 'La Rioja' as the cultivar name and Silver Starfish as a common name, though in Argentina the common name . We have been building stock on this plant since 2008 when we received two plants from Brian Kemble of the Ruth Bancroft Garden and one plant from John Trager at the Huntington Botanic Garden and were finally able to offer plants for sale in 2016.
The information about Dyckia floribunda 'La Rioja' that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.
Please note that after 46 years in business, San Marcos Growers will be discontinuing nursery operations by the end of 2025 and the property will be developed for affordable housing.
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