A tall-growing form of this species of northern and central Peru where it lives as an epiphyte in thorn forests of the arid foothills in the eastern Andes. Many variations, forms and cultivars have been selected from this species that long been popular with hobbyists.

This form has a long stem with many broad, curling, silvery leaves. The inflorescence is about 18 to 24 inches tall, above the foliage, and is topped with a cluster of pinkish-lavender branches. In nature this plant grows in mostly full sun in an arid climate, receiving most of its moisture from nightly fogs.

For best results keep in a bright and airy location.

*VIPP plants are in bud as of 3/28/25

A unique species from Cuba where it lives on exposed limestone cliffs near Santiago de Cuba at about 1,000 feet of altitude. Related to capitata, it forms a somewhat bulbous base with stiff, glabrous leaves in a flaring, upright rosette with the leaves recurving sharply in a coil when grown bright or hard. The color varies with light and stage of growth but is green with a slight gray bloom when young and becomes yellowish with maturity, blushing pink in strong light.

At anthesis the inflorescence produces long scape bracts of yellow, ending in pink. The branches are mostly green and the tubular flowers purple-blue. Easy to grow mounted but slow growing and very cold tender.

A rarity in cultivation. This one comes from Morro do Chapeu, Brazil. It is very similar in appearance to Tillandsia gardneri. It has narrower leaves and is more robust. It has a erect inflorescence with 6 to 8 branches. The bracts are pink with scurf and the petals are pink. 

This is a showy 6 to 8 inch species from Bolivia and Argentina, and is thought to possibly be a natural hybrid of ixioides and recurvifolia. It has stiff silvery leaves in a an upright rosette, with a fairly long scape, bearing pink bracts and light yellow flowers. The fragrance is faint, at best, but is described as 'spicy'. A nice plant that flowers freely and makes large clusters in a few seasons. Easy to grow, bright and on the dry side.

Tillandsia purpurea is found in Peru's famous coastal deserts where it forms large colonies on the burning sands, each containing millions of plants of a single or a few clones. Adjacent valleys may have completely different looking forms which are in fact the same species. This happens to be one of the more desirable of Tillandsias due in part to its ease of cultivation and its colorful, fragrant flowers.