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.

Unusual for the cross, this same cross; Tillandsia edithae x albertiana, has been made several times in the past and is registered under at least two names. Both however have red flowers, as one might expect with a cross of two red-flowered parents. This one has large purple flowers, silvery pink bracts and nice silvery leaves in a leafy, upright rosette. This plant freely produces many offsets.

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.

Tillandsia extensa, a terrestrial from the upper slopes of the Rio Chancay has red leaves when grown in full sun. The infloresence is a massive, multi-branched panicle that is sometimes used a Christmas tree locally. Mature at about 24 inches the species seems to adapt well to cultivation and may be grown potted or mounted.

*VIPP plants are Small

This is an unidentified species that is at least similar to fasciculata and with a ‘Pink & Green’ inflorescence. We have had this for many years and in the interim have lost the locality data for it. We believe that this was originally from Mexico, but may be mistaken. Too bad, because this data is important when trying to identify plants. At any rate, this is a nice and colorful, fairly large-growing Tillandsia worthy of space in your collection!

A large-growing Tillandsia that fits closer with fasciculata than anything else, with silvery-gray leaves to 24 inches long in a very large and full rosette. The inflorescence is massive, reaching well above the foliage on a thick scape, supporting a head of up to 20 fat bright-red bracts up to 8 inches long and an inch thick.

The inflorescence lasts in good color for over a year. A likely natural hybrid of fasciculata x compressa that we got from Jamaica over 40 years ago.

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.

Native to the dry woods and scrub of northwest Mexico.

A large growing, green-leaved form of Tillandsia flabellata from Mexico. Growing in an upright rosette with half-inch wide leaves up to 15 inches long or more, it produces a very large, branched, orange-red inflorescence that rises well above the foliage. Can be grown potted or mounted, it is a sub-mesic species. 

*VIPP plants are offsets, not in bud