The largest form, native to the desert valleys of central Ecuador. Often found growing as a saxicole or on cacti, this form differs from the typical in being much larger, with a bulbous base that can reach three inches in diameter and strictly upright, fine reddish-brown leaves. The inflorescence is longer, exceeding the foliage by several inches, branched and producing many yellow flowers which have a mild fragrance. An easy species to cultivate. Grows into a nice slightly stoloniferous cluster and does well mounted or potted in a very loose, well-drained media.

Like Tillandsia 'Victoria' with the brachycaulos x ionantha parentage, only BIGGER.

A small species with twisted foliage and fragrant light blue flowers. Native of Bolivia and Argentina where it grows in small clusters in the arid scrublands. The leaves are silvery, terete and somewhat kinked. Its inflorescence is like that of a streptocarpa, with light blue fragrant flowers. Grow bright and airy for best results.

First it should be noted that there is no such thing as Tillandsia tomasellii officially. This taxa has been combined with xerographica and is for all practical purposes, that plant. However, it bears little resemblance to a ‘typical’ xerographica.

This plant more closely resembles Tillandsia fasciculata in general aspect, same basic shape, narrow, silvery leaves, etc. The inflorescence however does resemble xerographica, a tall, well branched spike of yellow. A possible hybrid? Maybe, but for now, we are keeping this plant with its old name.

By the way, our plants originated in Guatemala, not Oaxaca, Mexico where tomasellii was first found.

Tillandsia stricta The soft-leaved form from Brazil. Mature at about 3 to 4in, has fine green to reddish-tinted leaves and will flower with vivid rose-pink bracts and blue flowers.

A species widespread in southern South America, is a common plant and one of the most fragrant and easy to cultivate species. Grows in tangled clusters with silvery, eight to twelve-inch leaves. The inflorescence has a cluster of short branches and bears many purple, highly fragrant flowers. Grow mounted in a breezy spot.

Tillandsia paleacea v. apurimacensis  A small silvery plant that blooms purple. Cultivation is easy, grow mounted or simply hang on a string in a breezy, bright spot. Water infrequently and fertilize modestly.

This plant was imported in the early 1980s from Guatemala and came in mixed with Tillandsia caput-medusae. When this plant flowered it was obvious to us that it was a hybrid and we consulted with Harry Luther who agreed that it was likely a caput-medusae x brachycaulos natural hybrid. Until 2013 we had been growing this plant under that name.

I recently submitted a photo of it to Derek Butcher and Geoffrey Lawn of the Hybrid Registry and Derek wrote me back saying “You have the original T. brachycaulos var multiflora see attached. However the botanists decided it was a natural hybrid which I maintain should be in alpha order because you do not know mother thus brachycaulos x caput-medusae. So we are in a quandary.

Under ICBN rules your plant has a ‘name’. I am suggesting we stretch the rules and under the ICNCP rules call your plant ‘Zacapa‘ linking it to the Lyman Smith variety and thus the Field herb specimen.” And so we are. This plant has grown much larger under cultivated conditions and maintains a nice coloration. A choice plant.

A suspected natural hybrid of (aeranthos x bergeri) that turned up in a shipment of bergeri from Argentina many years ago. A caulescent plant with stiff, gray leaves on a 6 inch stem, branching freely and forming large clusters. 

The inflorescence is a 3 to 4 inch long scape with deep rose pink bracts and dark, inky blue flowers. There are other Tillandsias of the same cross, but this one is quite different, deserving its own name.

A lithophytic Tillandsia species from the vicinity of El Tule, Oaxaca, Mexico at about 5,300 feet of altitude. Considered a distinct variety of the Tillandsia mitlaensis from near the same area. That form is more of a fasciculate, stemless lithophyte while the variety tulensis is distinctly caulescent. The leaves narrower and smaller than the typical species, with appressed silvery-white scales as opposed to dense pruinose scales of the typical form.

The inflorescence is simple, erect, about six inches long with pink bracts and tubular purple flowers. Easy to grow under typical Tillandsia cultural conditions.

This plant has a bit of a history before becoming Tillandsia ‘Kashkin’. Having been collected in Bolivia some years ago by Michael Kashkin, it entered cultivation as simply Species Bolivia. Over the years as it passed from grower to grower, it went by ‘Caulescent jucunda’, ‘Fragrant Flower Bolivia’, and ‘Inca Gold’. Eventually Derek Butcher of Australia did the footwork to determine that the plant is likely a natural hybrid. Of what exactly is not known.

It is a slightly caulescent plant with stiff, narrow, silvery leaves, and a slightly branched inflorescence bearing large, yellow, very fragrant flowers. Easy to grow, it forms nice clusters and likes bright conditions and good air circulation.