From Guatemala. This cute little plant about 4 inches tall has a bright green bulbous base and twisted, wiry leaves that blush bright red when blooming. The inflorescence is a short scape with red branches and deep blue flowers. Grow shaded and moist for best results. Forms attractive clumps, can be grown hanging from a string. A must for every Tillandsia fancier. Good for terrariums too.

This crown jewel of ionanthas, is a rare caulescent form from Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas, Mexico, where it covers the canyon walls in some places, by the thousands. This form has short thick leaves on a 3 to 6 inch stem and blushes a peach color when in bloom and forms large cascading clusters. The plant is very different from typical ionanthas, with a long stem that forms many adventitious offsets which can be removed and grown or left to form a large cluster. Very easy to grow, bright and airy.

Perhaps the reddest of all the ionantha forms when blooming. Simply beautiful, it was originally found in a Guatemalan mangrove forest where the first few dozen plants were collected. Grow bright, warm and airy. Forms a ball-like clump that can be cultivated hanging from a string or wire. Individual plants are small, barely over an inch tall. An excellent, easy to grow, must-have species.

Hint: Makes a great holiday wreath or Valentine's Day arrangement!

This species from Mexico and Central America is an upright growing plant to 12 inches and has a simple or occasionally branched, 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 large growing clone of the ‘Blushing Bride’ from Honduras. Vase-shaped, with the leaf tips curving outward, reaching over 3 inches tall; big for an ionantha! Blushes brilliant red when in bloom.

Little rosettes form on six inch stolons, spreading out horizontally, eventually forming a large cluster. Depending upon light and fertilizer levels, the plants will be reddish-green to bright red. Less fertilizer and more light brings out maximum color.

This miniature species has never been properly classified but remains an extremely popular plant. Outstanding in hanging baskets, in landscape and in terrariums.

The classic ‘Blushing Bride’, one of the first forms of this species imported, and at one time the most abundant.  Now overtaken by cultivated Guatemalan plants, which tend to be less colorful, the Mexican form is much sought.  Growing to about two inches tall and wide, it will form large clusters in a short time (few years) and is very easy to grow. 

Found from northern Mexico, within 100 miles of the Texas border, then south all the way to Guatemala.  It is found mostly in semi-arid, deciduous forest where it can fill the limbs of trees by the tens of thousands.  This form blushes very bright red at anthesis.

Our slabs are flat and vary in size from about 6 inches to over 12 inches wide and 12 to 30 inches long. Thickness varies from about a half inch to two inches with the majority being in between those numbers.

To get an idea of size to weight, you can figure roughly a square foot per pound, rarely under that, usually over. This material is widely touted to be the best and most durable substrate for mounting epiphytic plants; resisting rot and pests and lasting for many years under greenhouse conditions. The upper surface is rough and craggy and the underside, harder and fairly smooth. Great for use in terrariums or cages and useful as a decorative background to display jewelry or other objects.

This product is harvested sustainably in Portugal from Quercus suber, the cork oak, and it’s main use is for bottle stoppers and shoe soles. This is a completely natural product. Easily broken into any size needed and can be ‘drilled’ with an awl or ice pick.

 Quantity is sold by the pound.