Not many of the species
and varieties are directly used for ornamental purposes; most are
replaced with the artificially hybridized cultivars today (Steens,
2003). In Taiwan, the climate conditions are suitable for cultivating
ornamental bromeliads with an annual yield of 500,000 plants.
Therefore, it is an important horticultural crop, among which the
Guzmania ‘Hilda’ (a hybrid of unknown origins) with red to yellow
bracts are widely popular cultivars (Steens, 2007).