Ananas bracteatus is a large, short-lived, perennial, terrestrial species of bromeliad native to South America (Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador). This species is considered an ornamental plant with its red fruit and a pretty flower.
Ananas bracteatus is a short lived perennial terrestrial plant related to the pineapple that grows up to about 90 cm tall (up to 1,2 m when flowering) and 90-120 cm wide. It is grown as an ornamental plant for its conspicuous red inflorescences and fruit. The similar False Pineapple (Pseudananas sagenarius) has spines at the base of the leaves that curve downward toward the base of the plant. Pineapple (Ananas comosus) has much less colourful inflorescences and larger fruit. Some taxonomists classify this as simply a variety of pineapple (Ananas comosus), not as a separate species. All the species in Ananas were recently transferred as varieties or cultivars of Ananas comosus. This plant is now Ananas comosus var. bracteatus.