Billbergia distachya is an epiphytic and terrestrial perennial. It is a native of Eastern Brazil where it grows in coastal scrub and rain-forest to a level of 1800m.
It will grow well in frost free gardens and clumps up quickly making it a good ground cover at the base of trees. It can be grown indoors as a pot plant in cooler climates.
Billbergia distachya is a tank epiphyte, it collects and uses water in the well created in centre of the leaf rosette.
The strap-like leaves are a grey green often flushed with a red wine or burgundy colour. They have a spiny margin so take care when transplanting or removing debris from amongst the leaves.
The inflorescence of these is quite lovely, the pendent flower head consists of a loose cluster of pale green tubulate flowers surrounded by bright pink bracts.