This species from Oaxaca, Mexico is nothing short of spectacular in nature where it grows in large colonies in the tops of seaside thorn-scrub forest. Brilliant orange-red is the most common color with vivid yellow inflorescences shining in full sun.

Full sun or bright light along with reducing watering during the dry season and reducing the amount of fertilizer may help duplicate its harsh native environment and bring out stronger colors. Does not like cold! Keep warm at all times if possible.

A fine-leaved caulescent species from Central America always found growing in clumps. The foliage tints reddish in strong light and the simple red spike produces pretty yellow flowers. Grows well hanging from a string where it will form massive clusters in time. Tillandsia schiedeana minor is one of three commonly recognized forms of schiedeana. Found growing in clusters of several plants up to even hundreds. In full light the plants take on a reddish cast and when in bloom, the whole colony is a mass of red spikes and yellow flowers. Very attractive. Single plants are caulescent, up to 8′, and have fine 3′ leaves. Will form an attractive clump in a few seasons. Grow mounted, bright and airy.

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.

We collected just one of these plants back in the 1990’s in Sumidero Canyon, Chiapas, Mexico where it lives on vertical cliffs along with other interesting species like T. vanhynningii. Since then we nursed it along until we built up a still very small stock. This is a choice plant with an open rosette of many very stiff, narrow, silvery leaves and a lax inflorescence of pink branches. Very slow growing, but worth the wait.

A caulescent Peruvian plant that is quite different from other forms of this species. A stem that can reach several feet long, is covered with, 3 inch silvery leaves. A simple 12 inch or larger spike bears large deep purple flowers. An attractive plant that grows fast and produces numerous offsets from the base of the old bloom spike. This form doesn’t make roots.

A beautiful and dramatic looking species from a variety of habitats in Mexico and Central America into parts of the Caribbean.  Coastal habitats are preferred and this plant can often be found growing in mangroves or in very exposed locations in other open wooded habitats.  In nature it forms very large clusters and is sometimes inhabited by ants which take advantage of its bulbous base for housing. 

A striking plant that forms a turnip shaped and sized base of broad succulent leaves which hang down in curls.  the curliness of the leaves depends somewhat on the moisture content, becoming more curly as the plant dries out.  The leaves are coated with silvery trichomes and is quite attractive even when not in bloom.  The inflorescence is taller by more than double the base of the plant and the scape has long, curly, leaf-like bracts. Pink branches top the spike and produce purplish-blue flowers at anthesis. The color lasts for a long time and in good light, the inflorescence and some of the upper leaves of the plant can blush reddish. 

A choice plant that should be in every collection.  Easy to grow, mount or hang from a string ‘cradle’, water often and feed well to grow this plant to an impressive size.

An all-time favorite from Brazil is about 6 inches across in a leafy rosette with stiff gray-green leaves. It produces a stunning blue-flowered, plume-shaped pink inflorescence in the summer. In nature this plant can be found growing on the restinga sands of beach dunes and in trees in the foothills of the Atlantic Range in Brazil.

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 possible natural hybrid though I am not sure if the two species overlap. Anyway it occurred in a collection of plants imported years ago. A 6 inch, stiff, gray-leaved rosette with pale, papery bracts and yellowish-white flowers that fade to light blue.

A nice hybrid with silvery-white leaves in a full rosette that can reach 10 inches across in larger specimens. The inflorescence is fairly stricta-like, about 6 inches long and nodding. The bracts are bright pink frosted with silver on the tips. A choice plant that needs a good name.

This is a cross that came to us under formula without any specified hybridizer. We are therefore taking this one at ‘face value’ so to speak. A leafy, upright, funnel form rosette of fairly narrow, semi-stiff, gray green leaves that tint dark reddish in strong light.

The inflorescence is pink and forms a scape with tight branches bearing white flowers. Long lasting in color. As yet not named.