A natural hybrid of (flexuosa x funckiana) that we collected in Venezuela in the late 1990’s. This plant is from a completely different area than the one described by Gouda in 2002, but it likely would be considered the same taxa. Our plant is from the state of Carabobo on the old road from Valencia to Puerto Cabello, a long distance from the Merida locality of the other. We found ours growing on a rock, in light forest in partial shade. The Tillandsia flexuosa and funckiana in this area are quite different looking than the ones near Merida which is much higher in altitude and much drier.

An interesting plant with long, stiff leaves along a caulescent stem, silvery green in color, clump forming. The inflorescence is a thin scape no higher than the foliage, with large flowers of deep rose red that are tubular with flaring petals that recurve at the tips. A very interesting plant that leaves no doubt about its hybrid origins.

A brilliantly white margined form of Neo. compacta. A stoloniferous plant to 20 inches or so, light green, blushing brilliant red in the center when in bloom. Great for direct mounting in trees in subtropical locations or for a really different hanging basket subject. Once very rare and very expensive, it is nothing if not prolific.

A very select clone of this handsome species, originally from Panama. This plant takes on a deep red leaf color in bright light and may be grown in full sun. The inflorescence is a massive set of thickly inflated, deep red branches. We collected the original plants many years ago in Northern Panama as offsets from plants growing in trees in open pasture land. From a hot, humid area, subject to seasonal drought. In other words; easy to grow!

A nice hybrid by Jim Irvin that unfortunately he never named nor registered. Using two South American species native to warm to hot arid regions. Tillandsia babuagrandensis is a species with a simple inflorescence of pinkish red from Peru in the region of Bagua Grande in the state of Amazonas and the didisticha is a handsome species from Bolivia and Argentina with a branched pink inflorescence.

The cross has many short, stiff, pointed leaves with a coating of silver trichomes. The inflorescence is a tall spike with on or two upright branches, red with silver trichomes giving it a pinkish coloration. Easy to grow, pups well and does best in bright light, mounted.

A cute miniature with reddish, narrow leaves and a red scape with long bracts and a capitate head with blue flowers. An enigmatic plant discovered in Eastern Dominican Republic growing on tall limestone cliffs by Luis Ariza Julia and Prof. Eugene de J. Marcano. It was identified as Tillandsia capitata by Lyman Smith but a form never before seen. Later it was introduced to cultivation by Rauh as a varietal form of capitata and was given the provisional name of ‘Domingensis’ which was subsequently rejected scientifically, but serves well as a cultivar name to keep this diminutive form separate from the many mainland forms. Easy to grow mounted in bright light. Will form large clusters in time.

A Ray Coleman cross of (gigas x ‘Tingua’) that is a large growing plant reaching 20 inches tall and 45 inches across with 3 inch wide leaves. In strong light the leaves are rich, rusty brown with some dark red speckling. No significant color change at anthesis. Flowers are blue. Useful in landscape as it is a large grower with a tolerance for sun and harsh conditions.

Yet unnamed, this Sharon Petersen hybrid of Dyckia choristaminea and an unreported other Dyckia as pollen parent is a smaller grower. Compact rosettes of narrow, bronze/red leaves dusted with silvery white scurffing are about six inches across when mature. The leaves, though narrow, are wider than the choristaminea parent, at about a quarter inch.

Jim Irvin’s cultivar of (ionantha v. vanhyningi x caputmedusae ‘Red form’) shows some characteristics of both parents. Overall it is most similar to the caput-medusae parent with a somewhat bulbous base and narrow leaves flaring outward. The leaves are semi-terete but do not contort like caput-medusae often does. 

The ionantha v. vanhyningii aspect comes through in the inflorescence which is a short scape of tight branches and rosy red bracts. At anthesis the upper leaves blush reddish and in bright light they can be reddish most of the time.

A rare, smaller relative of Tillandsia fasciculata from Jamaica, although our specimen sourced from the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (SEL 1986-0480) came from the Dominican Republic via Luis Ariza-Julia. It is unknown where he got the plant. Very narrow, silvery-gray leaves in an upright rosette to about 7 to 8 inches with a multi-branched inflorescence of bright red with light blue flowers. A very attractive, rare, small species.

A lithophytic jewel from the southern Mexican state of Chiapas is a very desirable and unusual species. A medium sized plant that may grow to a foot tall or so, and obtain the girth of a tennis ball, but much larger specimens are sometimes seen in collections. The leaves are terete and mostly erect, often contorted and are covered with a silvery scurf. The inflorescence is an erect, stout, branched pinkish spike. Very easy to cultivate mounted or potted in light media. There is some considerable discussion that this is actually a natural hybrid, but that has no bearing on the fact that it is an outstanding plant.

A variable plant from Ecuador and Peru with several forms is the most caulescent of the latifolia family. In some instances the plants can reach an astonishing six or more feet in length. In cultivation they rarely reach more than 3 feet. The flower spike is glabrous and bright orange. The stem of the plant is up to 30 inches and more with dark grayish foliage that is broad and rather soft.

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.