In my opinion a correct name on a label is desirable, but a label changed on sketchy evidence is just as confusing as a label that may be incorrect. One of the problems that the Bromeliad growers have to cope with is that the Bromeliad Society International complies with the international rules for naming plants.

To explain in as few words as possible I list the following:

  1. The Bromeliad Society International registrar believes that in order to comply with the international rules it is not valid to acknowledge GREX names.
  2. Most Bromeliad Hybridists DO use GREX names. [ E.g. In human beings of western culture the GREX in plant names equates to our Surname (e.g. Smith), for the novice grower the cultivar name equates to our Christian name (e.g. Derek). A GREX name can simply be the recipe name (e.g. Neo Carolinae X Neo Concentrica).] Due to the Bromeliad Society International registry recording only the cultivar name we do not have a central bank (or registry) of Bromeliad Hybrids.
  3. The rules of International naming of plants do not prohibit the use of GREX names.
  4. Many names that have been grandfathered into the cultivar registry were originally names of GREX origin. A good example of this is possibly a Grace Goode hybrid, made many years ago (1975), if we look at the old cultivar and hybrid register compiled by Don Beadle. If we look under Neoregelia Charm (N. Marmorata X Chlorostica) we see listed other cultivars, Beezlebub, etc, etc.


So in the past it was acceptable to mark your labels:


Today it is suggested your labels are marked:


My suggestion is your labels are marked:


(This gives you the plant’s history at a glance)
If you are unsure about changing labels simply mark the back of the label with new name and a question mark (?) until such time as you feel the new name is correct.