This is a giant form of Tillandsia pruinosa from Colombia. It is like the smaller or regular forms except that it is larger and does not color up at anthesis as some forms do. It grows to nearly 12 inches tall with a thick base. It might resemble a slightly more slender Tillandsia seleriana due to its size but is a pruinosa for sure. Up right leaves and a bulbous base, all covered with heavy trichomes. Nice.

A bulbous plant with a thick base to over an inch, and very stiff, contorted, terete wiry leaves. The plants are gray and slightly striped. The inflorescence is a tall spike with lavender branches. Very colorful in bloom. Great clumping plant, grows well just suspended from a string or wire.

A small species with twisted foliage and fragrant light blue flowers. Native of Bolivia and Argentina where it grows in small clusters in the arid scrublands. The leaves are silvery, terete and somewhat kinked. Its inflorescence is like that of a streptocarpa, with light blue fragrant flowers. Grow bright and airy for best results.

An impressive large growing plant from the area of Yosondua, Oaxaca, Mexico where it grows terrestrially on exposed rock. It rarely produces roots, but tends to grow in dense clusters, supporting one another or leaning on rocks for support. Superficially, it resembles a giant capitata, with many strappy leaves, gracefully recurving in a 24 to 30 inch silvery rosette.

The inflorescence is quite tall with a capitate head of long bracts and tight branches. In nature the inflorescence is red, hence the name, which means literally 'red head'. However, under our hot, humid, shaded conditions the colors are usually more subdued. This species is rare in cultivation.

A large growing clone of the species with stiff, gray leaves that have an almost glaucous look. The inflorescence is tall, narrowly branched and light yellow in color. A lithophyte or rock dwelling form that lives in southern Mexico. An easy to grow, hardy species.

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.

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.

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.