A robust form of this caulescent species from Brazil grows to about 8 inches long but can exceed 12 inches. Stiff, reddish leaves make this a handsome species and it easily forms large clusters. The inflorescence has pink bracts and white flowers. Both an epiphyte and lithophyte in habitat, it does well mounted or simply suspended from a string or wire.

This plant has not yet been published but has been in cultivation for a while under the name of Tillandsia cocoensis.

In correspondence with Eric Gouda he says that this plant is most likely a form of T. tenuifolia and will likely be published as T. tenuifolia var. cocoensis by Renate Ehlers, hopefully in the near future. It was discovered growing on the cliffs of Morro do Coco in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil where it forms mats of plants with procumbent stems and stiff, silvery leaves. The flowers are slightly violet-white, borne on a short red scape with bright red bracts.

A cute and easy to grow species that blooms faithfully. Our plants came originally from the collection of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens with the accession number of SEL91-0099A.

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 usneoides  This is the famed ‘Spanish Moss’ of the romantic south. Gracing stately trees from Virginia to Argentina, its is a ubiquitous presence in much of the southern U.S. and especially here in Florida.

The form we sell is our native form, long silvery strands, fluffy and fresh, with fragrant green flowers when it blooms. We grow some in greenhouses, but much of our stock is harvested in the many trees right on Tropiflora property. We clean it of twigs and leaves and only rarely treat it with insecticides for shipment, by request.

Forget about the red bug stories you may have heard about ‘Spanish Moss’, it’s a myth. Great for that special tropical look in your trees, for use with reptiles, as decorative mulch on indoor plants and more. Keep in a breezy, partially shaded place for best results and water well once a week. Feed occasionally if kept indoors.

Note that the photo below is a clump just over 3 feet long and is about a pound (actually just under).

*PLEASE NOTE - We are no longer allowed to ship this item to Japan

A species from Bolivia and Argentina with very stiff, pointed leaves in a 5 to 8 inch rosette. It is colorful with dark greenish-bronze leaves and a beautiful and long lasting, multi-branched inflorescence of reddish-orange, with small white flowers. A very sturdy plant, easy to grow and tolerant of some cold weather.

A beautiful, silvery plant in a leafy 10 inch rosette with a handsome, silver-dusted pink-orange inflorescence and white flowers. Resembles didisticha a little and is sometimes confused with pucaraensis. Our plants came originally from the collection of Dr. Werner Rauh years ago.

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)

A natural hybrid of (flexuosa x funckiana) that we collected in Venezuela in the late 1990’s. This plant is from a completely different area than the one described by Gouda in 2002, but it likely would be considered the same taxa. Our plant is from the state of Carabobo on the old road from Valencia to Puerto Cabello, a long distance from the Merida locality of the other. We found ours growing on a rock, in light forest in partial shade. The Tillandsia flexuosa and funckiana in this area are quite different looking than the ones near Merida which is much higher in altitude and much drier.

An interesting plant with long, stiff leaves along a caulescent stem, silvery green in color, clump forming. The inflorescence is a thin scape no higher than the foliage, with large flowers of deep rose red that are tubular with flaring petals that recurve at the tips. A very interesting plant that leaves no doubt about its hybrid origins.

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

A beautiful and collectible Tillandsia from Guatemala which forms a large open rosette with wide recurving silver leaves and a handsome yellow inflorescence. Grown mounted or in a basket, the leaves will hang in long curls. Native to seasonally dry forests where they receive abundant sun and good air circulation, in cultivation does well in a hanging basket or a string ‘cradle’, just suspended in a bright, airy place.

A magnificent species now listed as endangered by C.I.T.E.S.

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

This cross of xerographica x brachycaulos has been made before and at least one clone is registered as “Betty.”  This plant, however, is not the same, though of course, you’d expect similarities.  Our clone most closely resembles the xerographica parent in the foliage, with broad, channeled, fairly stiff, curling, silvery leaves.  The inflorescence is tall with many upright greenish branches and long scape bracts that blush slightly red at anthesis.  A nice large showy plant!