A plant of some mystery. Central American forms of concolor are still offered as acostae, as are some forms of fasciculata. In fact, I am not certain that anyone really knows what exactly Tillandsia acostae is. This species is now considered to be rhomboidea, though we also have that species and this one is different in some ways.

Our plants came from Costa Rica many years ago. At the time we showed the plants to Prof. Dr. Werner Rauh who gave us the name. Over the years we have never seen another ‘real’ acostae, and I guess we never will as it is now not recognized. It is a compact, stiff leaved plant with a dark orange, inflorescence with four or more branches that are almost oval in cross section. Rather slow growing but worth the wait!

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

We collected just one of these plants back in the 1990’s in Sumidero Canyon, Chiapas, Mexico where it lives on vertical cliffs along with other interesting species like T. ionantha v. vanhynningii. Since then we nursed it along until we built up a still very small stock. This is a choice plant with an open rosette of many very stiff, narrow, silvery leaves and a lax inflorescence of pink branches. Very slow growing, but worth the wait.

A form of the species that gains a reddish tint to the leaves, especially in strong light. Grows in a ball shape to grapefruit size, with wide strap-like leaves that twist and curl in fanciful shapes. The inflorescence is pink and branched with curling scape bracts.

The species is found from Mexico to the Northern half of Central America at or near sea level in hot, humid, brightly lit forests. The red form has been found in Belize but could occur anywhere. Grow mounted or hanging from a string so the leaves can hang in curls. Loves fertilizer and will respond by growing to impressive size.

We got this clone from Bob Spivey.

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.

A natural hybrid from Tropiflora of Tillandsia stricta x aeranthos.

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.

This beautiful species is native to only a couple of isolated canyons in central Honduras. A large upright grower to over 30 inches, with stiff, greenish leaves and an inflorescence of long pink, upright, terete branches.

In nature it lives at the base of cliffs, supporting itself against rocks and other plants. In cultivation it can be kept bare root, mounted or may be potted in a well drained media.

*VIPP plants are large Offsets

This is a superior clone of the species that has been grown in cultivation from seed! This is a long and arduous process for any Tillandsia and especially such relatively slow species as these. A species supremely adapted to the harsh climate of the nearly rain free canyons of interior southern Ecuador and northern Peru.

The plants, resembling cotton candy, are covered with a heavy coat of silver trichomes giving them an otherworldly appearance. In nature the plants use their trichomes to capture minute amounts of moisture from dew and frequent fogs which provide their major source moisture.

The inflorescence is a spike with a cluster of pink branches and blue flowers. After blooming the plants produce a cluster of offsets at the base of the inflorescence. The plants require bright light, good air movement and little watering in cultivation. Maintain in bright light up to full sun, watering weekly is good but the plants must dry quickly. Do not allow them to remain wet for extended periods. 

A robust form of this caulescent species from Brazil grows to about 8 inches long but can exceed 12 inches. Stiff, reddish leaves make this a handsome species and it easily forms large clusters. The inflorescence has pink bracts and white flowers. Both an epiphyte and lithophyte in habitat, it does well mounted or simply suspended from a string or wire.