It’s hard to improve on Tillandsia brachycaulos, a pretty, easy to grow, green plant that blushes bright red when in bloom. But, growers are always looking for something better or at least different, and this clone has been judged to be ‘brighter red’ with noticeably narrower leaves. Whether it is better than the original or typical clone is a matter of conjecture and more to the point, in the eye of the beholder, but anyway it is a nice little show plant worthy of space in your collection.

A stunning and rare form of this otherwise common and widespread species. Normally a green plant that blushes with an all over red coloration when in bloom. This form is similar in all aspects, except that it blushes bright yellow instead of red, and has white flowers instead of purple. An outstanding addition to any collection. Keep in bright indirect light. Brighter light brings stronger coloration at anthesis. Not suited for full sun.

A beautiful yellow-blushing form with white flowers, that we found in Costa Rica back in 2002 on a trip along with Chester Skotak and Hiroyuki Takizawa. We do not have many, even after all this time. It’s a little slower to grow than the typical form, but is worth the wait. SEL2002-0299.

*VIPP plants are NOT in color at this time

A species of northern and central Peru where it lives as an epiphyte in thorn forests of the arid foothills in the eastern Andes. Long popular with hobbyists it has been cultivated for years and several very fine clones have been selected out, chosen for size, foliage color and of course the inflorescences. This form has especially silvery leaves in a large growing rosette of many leaves. The inflorescence is about 18 inches tall with many lavender branches bearing white flowers edged in purple. Grow bright and airy for best results and feed often to attain best, biggest size.

A curious hybrid of cacticola ‘Splendid’ x duratii has some characteristics of both parents but really resembles neither. The plant forms an upright rosette of stiff, succulent leaves that taper to a curling tip. The inflorescence is upright, usually simple, dark purple with pale lavender flowers. Unusual.

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.

Somewhat resembles a Tillandsia brachycaulos in size and shape but less leafy. Leaves are somewhat stiff, shiny, and gray/green. The entire plant flushes pink or peach when in bloom, with a short scape. An epiphyte on shrubby trees in the scorching valleys of central Honduras. Definitely something different. Easy to grow.

A large robust species with thick, leathery leaves is a rock dweller from central Mexico. Reddish foliage in an open rosette and a showy, tall inflorescence of orange. A choice plant that is easy to grow and can be potted or mounted.

A very nice specimen of this variable species from Mexico, with grayish-green leaves in an upright rosette. The inflorescence is a torch-like head of bright yellow bracts that is long lasting and colorful. Much larger than the standard capitata form, this one can grow up to 24 inches!

A lithophyte in nature, it can be grown mounted or potted in a well-draining mix.

One of the all-time favorite, easy to grow, beautiful Tillandsias, from Chiapas, Mexico. A pinkish-silver plant with wide, leathery, scurfy leaves in a broadly spreading open rosette. Can grow to 18 inches, but usually is much smaller.

The inflorescence, which can last in color for a year, is an inflated, sometimes branched, pink spike. A cliff-dweller from the dramatic canyons of Chiapas, it best kept mounted in bright light, and fed frequently.

This beautiful cliff-dwelling species endemic to Chiapas, Mexico is usually seen as a modest sized plant about 6 to 8 inches across, max, with normally, a simple spike. This clone is a relative giant, at well over 12 inches across and quite heavy and dense, the leaves are rather succulent and the inflorescence inflated.Covered with a thick coat of trichomes, it is silvery or even pinkish with a pink, scruffy inflorescence.

The inflorescence is usually three branched and very fat. Naturally such a large plant would be expected to be a slower grower, and it is. A blooming plant is worth the wait! Easy to grow, mounted, bright and airy, it will give months of color when in bloom. An outstanding and rarely seen selection of this fine species.

A reverse cross of the outstanding hybrid ‘Steve’ by Steve Correale which is (fasciculata ‘Magnificent’ x chiapensis).  Very similar in most aspects, maybe just a bit more scurffy with an inflorescence that is more open than in the ‘Steve’.  A plant of heavy, thick substance.   The inflorescence has a similar shape to that of the fasciculata parent, which is an outstanding form native to northern Panama, but is a bit thicker and heavily dusted with the silver trichomes over red that makes the inflorescence fuzzy pink like that of the chiapensis parent.