Billbergia is just one genus within the large family of striking tropical plants belong to Bromeliaceae. The members of Bromeliaceae family called Bromeliads. There are more than 2000 species of bromeliads, all from the New World tropics and subtropics. These plants are tropical, not able to withstand hard frozen winter; however, some are often reported as tolerating light freezes into the -10 °C and bouncing right back.

Billbergia nutans is native to Paraguay, Uruguay, southern Brazil and northern Argentina. It grows on trees and on rocks or the ground in subtropical forests. Genius name comes from Gustav J. Billberg, 19th century Swedish botanist and nutans refer to pendant flower. It is called Queen’s Tears, the link to royalty may be the rich pink and purple on the magnificent blooms. The tears are drops of nectar that form on the flowers. Another English name for Billbergia nutans is Friendship Plant. That’s a reference to the prolific “pupping” of the plants, and the ease with which owners can pass those to the friends.

Queen’s Tears is an epiphytic bromeliad with tough grasslike leaves arranged in a narrow funnel shaped rosette. Each rosette has 12 to 15 strap shaped grayish green leaves that may be flushed with red or bronze. Leaf margins are usually finely toothed and the tip is pointed. In spring, the rosette gives birth to an arching flower stalk that bears a remarkable inflorescence that has been likened to a bird of paradise. The leaves form a natural vase or funnel at the center. In the wild, this vase catches rainwater and droppings old leaves of trees. When Billbergia nutans blooms, a spike emerges from the center of the rosette. It gets longer, bends earthward, and blossoms into the complex and colorful flower with pink tube and reflexed, purple-edged, yellow-green tepals. When a mother plant blooms, that particular rosette then enters a phase of growing offshoots. The plant ultimately reach 40-50 cm height and 40-50 cm wide.

Queen’s Tears are among to carefree bromeliads and probably one of the most cold hardy. One report says it withstands -14 °C. Can be grown outdoors as an epiphyte or in humus-rich, sharply drained soil in frost-free location. Under glass grow as an epiphyte or in epiphytic bromeliad compost in bright indirect light. Keep the centre funnel filled with fresh water.

Propagation of Billbergia nutans is done by seed or by removing pups. Pups can be separated from mature plants, cut the pup off, and remove a bottom leaf or two to expose stem for rooting. For continued flowering, the plant needs to grow new pups. Queen’s Tears are almost orchid-like in their need for a well drained root zone. They can be mounted on wood or bark, or planted in coarse potting mix. Bromeliads get their moisture and nutrients not from roots, but from rain and debris that fall from above into the funnel-like rosettes. Billbergia nutans does best in a humid environment with water constantly in its rosettes. Also as a subtropical epiphytic bromeliad, it is surprisingly tolerant of drought. Indoor bromeliads benefit from occasional misting. It prefers dappled shade, reasonable overhead shelter from a canopy of larger plants and a well drained, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil. Keep moist in the summer, although they don’t need huge amounts of water as they have a small root system.

Use in Landscape: Queen’s Tears, the easiest of all bromeliads, can be grown indoors in a pot or on a “bromeliad tree”, which might be a piece of driftwood with bromeliads attached in several places. Set the tree outside under a real tree in summer. In zones 8 and above, grow Billbergia nutans outdoors in beds, borders, containers, or epiphytically on a tree or post. As a ground cover, it spreads fairly quickly to cover partly shady corners and areas under large trees.