With cold weather, many gardeners turn to interior plant gardening. An easy group of plants to grow, with long-lasting color, are bromeliads. The bromeliad family is native to tropical North and South America, and is home to a diverse group of plants with more than 2,500 species and 50 genera that are grown as houseplants. None of the bromeliads will survive freezing weather, but they will thrive outdoors in the summer months. The two best-known members of the family are pineapple and Spanish Moss, which look nothing alike and are not common houseplants.

All members of the Bromeliad family are monocots, which are related to grasses. Many are epiphytic plants or air plants, which grow on trees or rocks in their native environments.