A unique species from Cuba where it lives on exposed limestone cliffs near Santiago de Cuba at about 1,000 feet of altitude. Related to capitata, it forms a somewhat bulbous base with stiff, glabrous leaves in a flaring, upright rosette with the leaves recurving sharply in a coil when grown bright or hard. The color varies with light and stage of growth but is green with a slight gray bloom when young and becomes yellowish with maturity, blushing pink in strong light.

At anthesis the inflorescence produces long scape bracts of yellow, ending in pink. The branches are mostly green and the tubular flowers purple-blue. Easy to grow mounted but slow growing and very cold tender.

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.