A small lithophytic, clustering plant to about 2 inches, with short, stiff and rather succulent, dark gray leaves. Widely flaring, half inch pink flowers are borne on a short scape in small clusters. We’ve seen grapefruit sized clusters of this species growing on rocky cliffs in Bolivia, covered with pink flowers. In cultivation it enjoys growing mounted and kept in bright light with good air circulation. Allow to dry quickly after watering.

This is a beauty and one of our favorite Tillandsias! We collected our original plants many years ago in Southern Ecuador and have propagated them since. An excellent species with many arching silvery-gray leaves in a 20 inch or larger rosette, with a beautiful branched rose-red inflorescence lasting for months.

Native to semi arid valleys and can often be found in trees near water courses. Somewhat of a slow grower but a spectacular plant at maturity. This species thrives with bright light and moderate watering and feeding.

An interesting species from Bahia, Brazil where it grows on exposed rock. Upright growing with narrow, 8 inch long leaves on a caulescent stem. The inflorescence is an erect spike, slightly taller than the foliage, terminating with a cluster of pink bracts and white flowers. A mature plant in bloom can reach 16 inches tall and 8 inches wide. Our plant is descended directly from the type collection by Elton Leme.

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.

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.

A lithophytic jewel from the southern Mexican state of Chiapas is a very desirable and unusual species. A medium sized plant that may grow to a foot tall or so, and obtain the girth of a tennis ball, but much larger specimens are sometimes seen in collections. The leaves are terete and mostly erect, often contorted and are covered with a silvery scurf. The inflorescence is an erect, stout, branched pinkish spike. Very easy to cultivate mounted or potted in light media. There is some considerable discussion that this is actually a natural hybrid, but that has no bearing on the fact that it is an outstanding plant.

A beautiful form of a bright red Mexican T. capitata that has been used by breeder Steve Correale for years to make many outstanding hybrids. There are other red clones of capitata from Mexico, but this one is a little different. A 15 inch rosette of thick, leathery leaves of deep, rich, wine red with an inflorescence the same color, and having great conformation.

At any rate, we have preserved this clone and we feel certain that there will be more hybrids of merit yet to come from pairing with this beautiful plant.