A fairly new species from Sierra de Niltepec, Zanatepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. A smallish grower 6 to 8 inches tall is a lithophyte or cliff dwelling species in nature. The leaves are stiff in an upright to slightly spreading rosette, silvery-gray and tapering to a point. The inflorescence is short to about 1.5 times the length of the leaves, well branched and light green with white flowers. Rare in collections.

A strange cliff dwelling species from Oaxaca, Mexico, growing to eight inches or so in a somewhat recurved rosette. The leaves are thick, succulent and rather glossy. A simple pink spike with purple flowers forms the inflorescence. A rare but hardy, easily cultivated species.

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

An epiphyte or lithophyte native to Mexico and Central America where it grows mostly in pine forests above 2,000 feet. Tillandsia seleriana takes the pseudobulb shape to the extreme. A myrmecophyte or ant plant in nature, often or usually having ant colonies living in the hollow spaces in the pseudobulb. (Not in cultivation of course!) Growing to about a thick as a tennis ball or slightly larger, and up to 10 inches tall. The leaves are tightly closed at the top, giving it the general shape of a turnip! In nature this plant is almost always growing sideways or upside down and in cultivation this method is best so as to keep excess water out of the base. Grow in a breezy place.

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 species widespread in southern South America, is a common plant and one of the most fragrant and easy to cultivate species. Grows in tangled clusters with silvery, eight to twelve-inch leaves. The inflorescence has a cluster of short branches and bears many purple, highly fragrant flowers. Grow mounted in a breezy spot.