This plant is an apparent natural hybrid but we are reasonably certain that it is a cross of (riohondoensis x ionantha) that came in with a shipment of the former from Guatemala some years ago. We have been propagating it ever since. The plant has many narrow, velvety leaves in an upright vase shaped rosette. It can grow to over ten inches tall and wide with leaves about a half inch wide tapering to a point. The inflorescence is a capitate head of very tight branches on a short scape bearing long leaf-like bracts. The bracts blush pink at anthesis along with the upper whorl of leaves.

Overall the plant is silvery with a heavy coating of trichomes. The leaves are soft and graceful. We are naming this plant in honor of our dear friend Ruby Ryde of Australia. An avid bromeliad collector of many years with her late husband Keith and who has for years faithfully sent us a beautiful calendar of Australian nature each December. She is our ‘Calendar Girl’ and we are proud to have her as our friend!

Tillandsia ‘Red Robin’ (T. streptophylla 'Red' Belize (ex Bob Spivey) x T. streptophylla 'Red' (ex Steve Correale) is a Tropiflora cultivar by Ray Lemieux, resulting from a series of crosses between several Tillandsia streptophyllas originating in Belize. The best of those, with reddish coloration, were crossed with ‘Spivey Belize Red’ (not sure if this is a registered plant. A clone of T. streptophylla). Selections of that cross were crossed with a red clone from Steve Correale. Select plants from that grex were crossed with another T. streptophylla called ‘Jim Irvin’s Pink. Best of that grex was crossed with another Tropiflora plant we call ‘Silver Fuzzy’ in 2017 (also not registered, a one-of). The best, reddest of that grex was selected to become ‘Red Robin’.

The plant is large and robust, with leaves that curl tightly, 17 inches long, 1.5 inches wide. A typical blooming plant, with spike, is 23 inches tall, with an inflorescence 17 inches tall with reddish-pink, 6-inch, curly bracts, and bearing a dozen or more silvery-pink branches. The bulbous base is approximately 6 x 6 inches.

A rarity in cultivation. This one comes from Morro do Chapeu, Brazil. It is very similar in appearance to Tillandsia gardneri. It has narrower leaves and is more robust. It has a erect inflorescence with 6 to 8 branches. The bracts are pink with scurf and the petals are pink. 

This is a beauty and one of our favorite Tillandsias! We collected our original plants many years ago in Southern Ecuador and have propagated them since. An excellent species with many arching silvery-gray leaves in a 20 inch or larger rosette, with a beautiful branched rose-red inflorescence lasting for months.

Native to semi arid valleys and can often be found in trees near water courses. Somewhat of a slow grower but a spectacular plant at maturity. This species thrives with bright light and moderate watering and feeding.