A lovely, robust hybrid by Jim Irvin is a cultivar of (limbata x bulbosa).  Most closely resembling the bulbosa parent with a bulbous base, glossy leaves, and a branched, red inflorescence, it does differ though in some aspects.  The plant is larger than bulbosa, growing to about 12 inches tall with upright, terete leaves that are glossy or nearly lacking visible trichomes.  The color is green overall until anthesis. 

The inflorescence is tall with multiple branches which are long and slender (more so than bulbosa) and bright red in color.  The foliage will blush slightly bronzy-reddish at anthesis and in stronger light.  A vigorous grower that produces more offsets than the bulbosa parent, forming nice clusters in a relatively short time. 

This is the proliferating form of secunda from the area north of Quito, Ecuador. A large growing plant with silvery-green leaves in an upright rosette, which when in bloom produces its offsets on its inflorescence. The inflorescence is tall and branched, up to 3 feet or so, and usually bright red in color, and the adventitious offsets are produced at almost every internode. In nature it grows on the ground on rocky slopes in full sun. Popular with collectors, it is usually grown potted to gain size and vigor.

*VIPP plants are NOT in bloom

A beautiful, giant growing form of this spectacular red-blushing Central American species. Normally about 6 inches across, this form easily reaches 12 inches or more! The leaves are green until anthesis and then blush bright red, which lasts for some weeks, then slowly fades back to green. A sub-mesic species that enjoys a bit more moisture than many of the gray leaved types.

An attractive hybrid of (ionantha x chiapensis) by John Arden. As with most ionantha hybrids, it shows very strong characteristics of that species. A very leafy open rosette to about 8 or 10 inches tall with a pinkish blush to the scurfy, silvery leaves. The inflorescence is very colorful, a cluster of bright red branches nested deep in the center, with large, tubular, inky-blue flowers. Very pretty and easy to grow. Likes to be on the dry side. 

This species is similar in some ways to Til. gurreroensis, but is smaller, with larger, almost fuzzy, trichomes. The inflorescence is simple, a pink spike with deep blue flowers. (The photo is lighter than actual) Discovered by Renate Ehlers, and named by her for her husband and collecting partner, Klaus. A rare gem.

A pretty plant that grows caulescent clusters, with wide, stiff, silvery-white leaves. The inflorescence is a simple thin red spike. Native to central Mexico. Can be cultivated in a basket, mounted or hanging from a wire or string. Likes bright light and good air circulation. This clone is much smaller than the normal form.

An accidental hybrid, probably made by hummingbirds visiting a greenhouse, is almost certainly a cross of (balbisiana x pseudobaileyi). This plant occurred amongst a group of seedlings of Tillandsia balbisiana supplied by a South American nurseryman. The shape of the plant is rather classic balbisiana in all aspects including size. The leaves though are semi-terete and have the striping like the T. pseudobaileyi. 

The inflorescence is like balbisiana in shape and size but has the color of pseudobaileyi. One can never be sure of such a cross, but in my experience I have never seen a hybrid that appeared as obvious as this one. A very striking plant.

A nautral hybrid of (albida x concolor) named and registered by Bill Timm. This is a real nice hybrid that shows characteristics of both parent plants. The foliage is silvery, in an open rosette with leaves that recurve and twist. It is not caulescent like albida. The inflorescence resembles the concolor parent with yellowish branches in upright candelabra form, and pink flowers. 

A natural hybrid of ixioides x bergeri from Argentina, with many stiff, silvery-gray, arching leaves in a tall rosette. The tall inflorescence is erect with tan to light pink, dry bracts like the ixioides parent and light blue, flaring flowers with twisted petals like the bergeri parent. Is hardy and very easy to grow, producing many offsets.

A naturally occurring hybrid of brachycaulos x dasyliriifolia from Mexico, described by Ramirez & Carnivali. In our experience it is not a large plant, but rather upright growing to about 12 to 18 inches with fairly broad silvery-green leaves. The inflorescence is cylindrical to occasionally branched, with pinkish bracts and white flowers.

(SEL2000-0185)

Bob Spivey’s hybrid is a cultivar of (funckiana x kegeliana), two red-flowered Tillandsias that are not as unrelated as they might appear. The flowers are in fact quite similar in both, though the foliage is dramatically different. The hybrid much more closely resembles the funckiana parent but differs in being more robust with longer leaves and having multiple flowers. It keeps the nice clustering habit of the funckiana parent.