This hybrid by Bill Timm is a cultivar of (capitata ‘Domingensis’ x ‘Casallena’). A medium to large plant with an upright, flaring vase shape. The leaves are long and taper from about a half inch wide to a slender tip and are green with a somewhat blotchy purple veneer, coated with silver trichomes.

The inflorescence is taller than the leaves with long, leaf-like scape bracts and a large cluster of glossy, deep red braches held upright, and dark blue flowers. An handsome plant!

C.I.T.E.S. - The xerographica parent makes this plant ineligible for shipping outside of the U.S. Sorry!

This is a magnificent large grower that we imported from Guatemala back in 1992 is, apparently, a natural hybrid of (xerographica x aff. capitata). Although this is the same suspected cross as ‘Rio Hondo’ it is certainly very different. The ‘Rio Hondo’ has the look of the aff. capitata parent, with broad, curling, blushing scape bracts and a capitate head. In keeping with the recommended naming of natural hybrids after their collection locality (when known) we are calling this one ‘El Rancho’.

Our ‘El Rancho’ has the general appearance of the xerographica parent, with wide, deeply channeled, stiff, curling leaves and a tall scape with long and slender scape bracts. The inflorescence has many branches, narrow and mostly upright in a tight cluster and has a slight pinkish blush. The blue flowers are exceptionally long and exerted. This plant is also part of the collection at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, with an accession number of SEL1992-0266.

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 hybrid by Mark Dimmitt, named and registered by Bill Timm. This clone of (concolor x streptophylla) is one of our favorites! It has a somewhat bulbous base and leaves that recurve downward in a sweeping arc. The leaves are stiffer than streptophylla and more lepidote than concolor. The inflorescence is shaped like concolor, but fuller, lanceolate and branched, pink with silver dusting. 

This cross was genius, or maybe dumb luck, but at any rate it ended up fantastic. A cross of (fasciculata x flagellata) by Chester Skotak, it blends two of the best Tillandsias out there. Ecuadorean T. flagellata is itself a gem, with many narrow, soft leaves in a gracefully arching rosette. The inflorescence is brilliant red. This hybrid takes all the best of that species and blends it with the vigor of fasciculata and the robust bloom of both. Beautiful but slow, but like all good things, worth waiting for. 

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.

This attractive Mark Dimmit hybrid is a cultivar of (stricta x gardneri). Grows to about 8 inches across with many rather narrow, soft, silvery leaves. The inflorescence has pink bracts. An easy to grow plant that is also a good pupper. 

A cultivar of Paterson’s cross of (tenuifolia x recurvifolia). A small plant to about 4 inches tall and wide with stiff, gray-green leaves in a loose rosette. The plant much more closely resembles the tenuifolia parent in shape but is more silvery. The inflorescence is a short scape with deep pink bracts and white flowers, close to the recurvifolia parent. Easily forms clusters of plants and is a fast, easy grower. 

A hybrid of (stricta x duratii) by Patterson. A caulescent plant to 18 inches, with a great many narrow, deeply channeled, curling, soft, silvery leaves that form a twisted cluster. The inflorescence is about 10 to 12 inches long, branched and produces open, purple flowers with a slight fragrance, though it is a reluctant bloomer. 

Believe it or not, this glowing green plant appeared in the same grex as the 'Red Robin' with the only difference being it's completely green with not even a hint of red! We have been growing this plant side by side with it's sister, 'Red Robin', for years and have not found any reddening of the leaves to date. It's possible future pups may appear red but there's no way of knowing at this point. We do know this plant has straighter leaves and does not get as curly. It's larger than T. streptophylla, with a bigger bottom and thicker more succulent leaves and heavy trichomes. Very pretty!

Pending registration.

A hybrid of (brachycaulos x exserta). Many stiff gracefully curving leaves, dusted with silver, form a 10 to16 inch rosette. A tall deep rose-red scape has long, narrow bracts, adding to the fullness and beauty of this very fine hybrid.