In the semi-arid landscapes of Northern Argentina, where dry forests stretch across the horizon and water is scarce, life has learned to endure in quiet and extraordinary ways. Among the native plants of this region is a family not often associated with desert ecosystems: the bromeliads.
Far from their tropical relatives, Bromeliads have adapted to survive in the Gran Chaco — one of South America's most ecologically diverse and climate-challenged regions. Here, they take root in thorny forests and dry scrublands, holding firm in the heat, conserving water, and resisting the erosion that threatens the soil around them.
A Plant Family Built for Survival
Bromeliads in this region grow close to the ground, often with spiny, fibrous leaves that help minimise water loss and offer protection from herbivores. Unlike their rainforest cousins, they do not rely on aerial roots or store water in tanks, but instead draw moisture from deep underground or retain it through their tough, structured foliage.
These terrestrial bromeliads form part of the natural vegetation known as monte, sharing the landscape with cacti, acacias, algarrobo trees and other drought-hardy species. They grow slowly, shaped by the rhythm of the land and the scarcity that defines it.
Chaguar: Tradition Rooted in the Wild
Among the most well-known bromeliads in Northern Argentina is chaguar — the local name for several wild species used by Wichí communities in the Gran Chaco. These plants are not cultivated, but foraged sustainably from the forest, where their fibres are harvested, cleaned and spun entirely by hand.
Chaguar fibres are then woven using ancestral techniques to create bags, accessories and textiles with a raw, natural elegance. The process is labour-intensive, chemical-free, and deeply respectful of the land and its rhythms.
👉 To learn more about how chaguar becomes textile, read our previous blog: Woven by Nature: The Allure of Chaguar Textiles from Argentina’s North https://theandesproject.com.au/blogs/the-andes-project/chaguar
A Natural Model for Design
Though modest in appearance, bromeliads are rich in inspiration. Their forms — bold, geometric, structured — echo in the textures and shapes found throughout our collections. Their ability to thrive with so little reflects a kind of quiet strength we deeply admire.
At The Andes Project, we see in these plants a powerful reminder: that design, like nature, is at its best when it's thoughtful, enduring, and grounded in place.
Looking to carry a piece of the desert with you?
Explore our Chaguar Collection — crafted with care, tradition, and desert-born strength.
Photo Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromelia_hieronymi