An interesting Mexican lithophytic species from Oaxaca where it lives in very arid conditions on rock outcrops. The leaves are very stiff, almost needle-like, about 18 inches long. The habit is like that of Till. juncea, but the foliage is much more robust. Related to T. rodrigueziana.

THIS PLANT IS ON C.I.T.E.S. AND CANNOT BE EXPORTED

A Guatemalan species to about 8 x 10 inches with lovely thick silvery leaves, a bright red, cylindrical, simple spike and purple flowers. Nice for mounting. Considered an endangered species, is rather rare in nature, but very commonly cultivated. Especially easy to grow, a confidence builder for beginners.

A saxicolous species from Peru’s desert valleys. Like a small, caulescent, silver tectorum, with inch long leaves. Grow dry and bright.

A cliff dwelling species from the high badlands of Honduras grows in a somewhat caulescent rosette with wide silvery leaves that blush pinkish when in bloom. The inflorescence is capitate on a short scape of peach colored bracts and lavender flowers. The range of this rarity from central Honduras is restricted to a few isolated limestone cliffs. The natural population has been decimated by forest fires but fortunately it is easily propagated and now grown in fairly large numbers.

A giant ionantha, the size and shape of the popular and well known personal explosive device. These giants are from Honduras and are true rarities. These plants are like ‘ordinary’ ionanthas except for the fact that they grow very large with many more leaves than typical plants. They often go for several years before blooming, which may be the reason they get so large. These plants occur amongst normal plants on the rarest of occasions.

*VIPP plants are small size, measuring 1 and 1/2 to 2 inches.

A Mexican form of ionantha with the same unique characteristics as the more familiar ‘Zebrina’; that of having even breaks in the trichomes, forming a decorative banded pattern. The ‘Zebrina’ looks to be a Guatemalan form of ionantha, differing only slightly from this form. The Mexican form differs mainly in blushing much brighter red at anthesis. We found this plant when splitting a group of Mexican ionanthas quite some years ago and have propagated them since. The name is inspired by the Zebra painted donkeys used by street photographers in Tijuana.

A cross of two plants of the southern cone of South America. Tillandsia ixioides which has few, very stiff leaves and no appreciable stem and bergeri which has a long stem and many short, stiff leaves. The result is a plant with many stiff leaves that recurve downwards in a rosette to about 4 inches in diameter. The inflorescence favors bergeri, with pale blue, twisted petals.

A small plant with grayish silver leaves in an upright rosette. It is clustering and has a short scape with bright pink bracts and yellowish flowers.

There seem to be two forms of Tillandsia jaliscomonticola from Mexico's desert southwest, one that produces a simple, un-branched, but large spike and one that produces an inflorescence with multiple branches. The branched form produces from three to six or more branches that are thickly inflated, and form an upright cluster at the top of the rachis. Colors are stunning, bright red below and bright yellow above, and lasting for months, make this a top choice of showy Tillandsia species. The foliage is narrow and channeled, in an open, arching rosette. A spectacular plant that is easy to cultivate, warm and breezy.

*VIPP plants in bud as of 5/16/25

A smallish species of Tillandsia that grows on a long stem.  The narrow, stiff leaves are 2 to 3 inches long spaced along the stem and taper to a point.  The overall color is dark purplish with a silvery tint.  The inflorescence is a 2 inch scape with bright pink bracts and flaring blue flowers.  Clumps are easily formed and once a clump forms, the plants can be suspended from a string for cultivation. 

Native to Rio Grande do Sul in Southern Brazil, it has a strong resemblance to T. aeranthos though it must be significantly different enough to deserve species status.  Our plants came originally from the collection of Elton Leme.