A giant form of concolor from Mexico with the same general characteristics as the typical form, but reaching nearly a foot across. A desert dweller with a restricted range, it can be seen growing on cacti and Acacia in the extremely harsh country near Cuicatlan, Oaxaca. Stiff yellowish-green foliage tints reddish in the sun, and a shiny multiple branched spike of yellow to red with pink flowers. An outstanding plant.

Note: It is suggested by the BSI that this is a natural hybrid of unknown parentage. I doubt that. The plants are abundant in habitat but of limited range and they vary little. I believe that this is just a large and attractive clone or possibly form of the species. The ‘normal’ form does not seem to occur within the range of ‘Cuicatlan‘.

A spectacular hybrid of (concolor x roland-gosselinii). A large grower with fairly stiff, narrow leaves of dark gray, resembling a Til. fasciculata somewhat in an open rosette to about 24 inches across.

The inflorescence is nothing short of spectacular with five to seven, deep red, glossy branches on a scape that rises just above the center of the plant. Very long lasting in color. An exceptional plant!

From Argentina, grows as a saxicole on exposed rock or epiphytically in scrubby thorn bush, almost always forming large clusters. This caulescent species has a rigid stem and short, stiff leaves, all a dark grayish color, and bears large and very fragrant, white flowers.

A notably easy species to cultivate, tolerating a variety of conditions and light levels. Prefers to be kept bright, airy and on the dry side

The granddaddy of fragrant Tillandsias. Native to Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina where the trees in the arid Chaco are filled with this weird and wonderful, highly fragrant species. Having seen many thousands growing wild, I would have to call the plant a ‘vining’ species. The stem may grow to several feet long in older specimens and the leaves reach out and twist into tight curls at the tips. In nature, it may actually climb to the uppermost part of a tree in a few seasons, and many treetops are brimming with dozens of specimens reaching out into space.

The inflorescence is simple or may be branched but bears many very large purple flowers. The fragrance is very strong and a single specimen can perfume an entire garden. Does not root as an adult, so it must be attached with glue or wires to a mount. Best results may come from suspending the plant from a string or wire and hanging it in a bright airy spot. Easiest of all the fragrant Tillandsias to cultivate.

A real oddity. Showing characteristics of both parents, the influence of duratii is obviously stronger. A caulescent plant, with narrow, succulent silvery leaves like duratii, but leafier and more of a rosette shape like stricta.

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 fairly rare plant in cultivation is a denizen of inland forests in the northern Mexican states of Sinaloa and Sonora. This plant is hummingbird pollinated and has a branched pink scape with tubular flowers. The plant is about 6 inches tall with somewhat stiff, silvery leaves in an upright rosette.

This Bill Timm hybrid is a cultivar of (elizabethae x ionantha ‘Fuego’). As is often the case with hybrids made with various forms of Tillandsia ionantha, this one takes on the basic shape of the that species, but is far larger at about 8 inches tall.

A strict, upright rosette of many leaves, green with silver trichomes and no blush at anthesis. The inflorescence is a scape that remains within the rosette, pink with blue flowers.

A tiny, 3 to 4 inch rosette of stiff, gray leaves that forms stoloniferous clusters. The inflorescence is a 4 inch spike of vivid red. Native to Peru and Ecuador where it forms huge epiphytic colonies in bombax trees, that may run into the thousands. Grow as a xeric Tillandsia, do not pot. This is a must-have plant.

This is the same plant in every way as the regular form of the species, except much, much larger. Reaching up to 12 inches in diameter, with stolons of 6 to 8 inches, it is an impressive plant. The many leaves are silvery, with an 8 inch bright red spike with blue flowers. This rare form is restricted to the north central Pacific coast of Ecuador. Grow mounted, bright as with most Tillandsias.  Please note that this species was described as and was considered a Vriesea until the recent DNA studies prompted a realignment to the genus Tillandsia.

The truth is, we suspect that this plant is not a fasciculata at all, but rather either a new species or one that we do not know about. For now though, for lack of a better name and because of its resemblance to that species, we will call it Tillandsia fasciculata ‘Yellow & Purple’. The plant is like a ‘typical’ fasciculata with an upright rosette formed of stiff, narrow leaves, but the inflorescence is rather stunning. A purple rachis with yellowish branches, showy and long lasting. If anything comes of the name, we’ll keep you posted.