We discovered this natural hybrid in the greenhouse where our flexuosas grow, directly alongside our streptophyllas. A giant grower (flexuosa 'Giant Form' x streptophylla) named for its huge size and regal appearance. Mature plants measure 2 ft wide and 3 ft tall. The inflorescence is a single spike with multiple branches and a dark dusky pink with purple blooms. Spectacular.

*VIPP plant is a medium size, NOT the one in the photo

A cultivar of a hybrid by Mark Dimmitt of Tillandsia ferreyrae x bulbosa, named by Bill Timm. Most resembling the bulbosa parent, but much larger with more leaves. This plant is dramatic looking with a bulbous base that is ‘egg shaped’, about 2 to 3 inches thick. The base is somewhat darkened, brown to almost black and the leaves, which are terete and taper to a fine point are green with a slight gray wash of trichomes.

The inflorescence is branched on a short scape, not quite as tall as the leaves. The braches and the leaf-like scape bracts blush bright red at anthesis. Flowers are two-tone, blue and white or pale lavender and blue. 

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.

Tillandsia 'Redy' (streptophylla x concolor) acquired from Paul Isley. A large, colorful blooming Tillandsia that was named to honor Rainforest Flora retail nursery manager, Redy Bond. This is a stunning hybrid that was originally made by Dr. Mark Dimmitt. The numerous leaves often form a circular, windmill pattern. A real “stunner” as the Aussies would say. 

A hybrid of (schiedeana x baileyi) by Bill Timm. A fairly fast growing, faithfully blooming, easy to grow plant. Forming little clusters of narrow, grassy leaves, with a simple inflorescence of pink, with white to yellowish flowers, it does well mounted on a twig or cork. 

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.

Bill Timm’s hybrid of (fasciculata x capitata). An open rosette of arching, moderately stiff, purplish leaves with an inflorescence consisting of a scape with a cluster of short, purplish branches. The primary bracts are leaf-like and blush reddish purple at anthesis. A fairly large and robust plant. 

A hybrid of (bulbosa x streptophylla) by Mark Dimmitt. This interesting plant could be described as a larger bulbosa-type plant with broader, more twisted leaves. Or, as a streptophylla-type plant with shiny and deeply channeled leaves. In other words, a good split of characteristics of both parents.

This hybrid is sometimes found as a natural cross in Guatemala. Grows well mounted, easily forming large clusters of plants. 

This is a nice cross that resembles a large bulbosa but with silvery scurf on the leaves and inflorescence. The overall shape is that of bulbosa; bulbous base with somewhat twisted, terete leaves and a scape with spreading branches. One parent, Showtime, is a cross of bulbosa x streptophylla, but there is little influence of the streptophylla parent in this cross, save maybe for the silvery scurf. The inflorescence is pink due to the trichomes. A robust, easy grower. 

A perfect hybrid. Halfway between both parents (brachycaulos x concolor), this fine hybrid has the shape of a concolor with fairly stiff leaves, but a glabrous sheen like brachycaulos. At anthesis it blushes red with a short scape with long, stiff bracts and short red branches bearing deep violet flowers. Highly recommended.

A natural hybrid of (schiedeana x caput-medusae). Resembling both parents, it has a semi-bulbous base like that of caput-medusae, but with straight leaves of schiedeana. The color is white lepidote with a branched red to rarely green inflorescence, producing bi-colored flowers.