A rare, smaller relative of Tillandsia fasciculata from Jamaica, although our specimen sourced from the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (SEL 1986-0480) came from the Dominican Republic via Luis Ariza-Julia. It is unknown where he got the plant. Very narrow, silvery-gray leaves in an upright rosette to about 7 to 8 inches with a multi-branched inflorescence of bright red with light blue flowers. A very attractive, rare, small species.

This is a slightly larger clone of this species from Mexico and Central America. Originally collected 12 km NE of Huatusco, Veracruz Mexico in oak forest, it came to us from the Marie Selby Botanical Garden (SEL1985-0700). An upright growing plant to 12 inches with a simple, lanceolate inflorescence of red and yellow. Usually epiphytic, sometimes lithophytic in nature, it is easy to grow and a faithful bloomer with leaves that blush reddish in strong light. Suitable for terrariums.

A cliff-dwelling species from central Mexico; San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, and Hidalgo. Possibly because of its pupping habit, unlike typical monocarpic utriculata, it is popular with hobbyists and easy to grow. A decorative species, with many leaves in an upright rosette, grayish silver and rather thin. The inflorescence is branched and red to orange or pink, with green and pale green, whitish flowers. Many offsets proliferate at the base of this subspecies and form a dense cluster in time. These little pups can be removed to start new plants at a very small size. Grows best mounted in bright light.

A natural hybrid of T. beutelspacheri x flabellata, from Chiapas Mexico.

A natural hybrid of Tillandsia gardneri x stricta. The native range of this natural hybrid is southeastern Brazil.  We received this clone from Elton Leme.

A naturally occurring hybrid of brachycaulos x dasyliriifolia from Mexico, described by Ramirez & Carnivali. In our experience it is not a large plant, but rather upright growing to about 12 to 18 inches with fairly broad silvery-green leaves. The inflorescence is cylindrical to occasionally branched, with pinkish bracts and white flowers.

(SEL2000-0185)

A naturally occurring hybrid of (fasciculata x ionantha), this plant was originally described as a species. For some, this plant is Tillandsia 'Jalapa-Fortin' because of the road where it is often found in Veracruz, Mexico. A great plant however you name it. In general it looks like a very big ionantha, blushing red when it blooms and having a short to nonexistent scape of blue flowers.

*VIPP plants are small, not in bud/color

A native of south-central, western Mexico, this is one of the most sought Tillandsias for collections, and with good reason. The plants are simply beautiful. Each forms a neat, open rosette of wide, glabrous, slightly orange colored leaves, which recurve downward to form an almost ball like appearance. The inflorescence is tall with multiple, inflated bright yellow and red branches. Very bright and long lasting. Takes on more vivid colors in strong light. Grows best mounted. Does not like cold!

A natural hybrid of (flexuosa x funckiana) that we collected in Venezuela in the late 1990’s. This plant is from a completely different area than the one described by Gouda in 2002, but it likely would be considered the same taxa. Our plant is from the state of Carabobo on the old road from Valencia to Puerto Cabello, a long distance from the Merida locality of the other. We found ours growing on a rock, in light forest in partial shade. The Tillandsia flexuosa and funckiana in this area are quite different looking than the ones near Merida which is much higher in altitude and much drier.

An interesting plant with long, stiff leaves along a caulescent stem, silvery green in color, clump forming. The inflorescence is a thin scape no higher than the foliage, with large flowers of deep rose red that are tubular with flaring petals that recurve at the tips. A very interesting plant that leaves no doubt about its hybrid origins.

A natural hybrid from the vicinity of El Rancho, Guatemala first imported and later described by Paul Isley. The cross is thought to be xerographica x paucifolia, both of which it shares some similarities. The plant forms an open rosette with a somewhat bulbous base, has broadly tapering, deeply channeled leaves that have a bit of a twist to them. The inflorescence is erect, branched and pinkish red with pale blue flowers.

An attractive and uncommon hybrid as all plants in cultivation have descended from the first import.

THIS PLANT IS ON C.I.T.E.S. AND CANNOT BE EXPORTED

A beautiful and collectible Tillandsia from Guatemala which forms a large open rosette with wide recurving silver leaves and a handsome yellow inflorescence. Grown mounted or in a basket, the leaves will hang in long curls. Native to seasonally dry forests where they receive abundant sun and good air circulation, in cultivation does well in a hanging basket or a string ‘cradle’, just suspended in a bright, airy place.

A magnificent species now listed as endangered by C.I.T.E.S.

THIS PLANT IS ON C.I.T.E.S. AND CANNOT BE EXPORTED

This cross of xerographica x brachycaulos has been made before and at least one clone is registered as “Betty.”  This plant, however, is not the same, though of course, you’d expect similarities.  Our clone most closely resembles the xerographica parent in the foliage, with broad, channeled, fairly stiff, curling, silvery leaves.  The inflorescence is tall with many upright greenish branches and long scape bracts that blush slightly red at anthesis.  A nice large showy plant!