A really wild looking hybrid blushing light red when in bloom and forming a capitate inflorescence. Multiple bright orange-red spikes protrude from the capitate head for a completely bizarre look. (capitata x flabellata) (Bak)

Tillandsia 'Chévere' is an unusual Tillandsia hybrid of (limbata x paraensis) by Bill Timm. About as different as you can get from one another, one parent, paraensis, being a soft leaved and bulbous based with a branched pink inflorescence with somewhat inflated bracts and not particularly easy to grow. The other parent, limbata, is an upright rosette of fairly stiff, tapering leaves up to 20 inches long that bears a very tall, branched inflorescence of red, but that is not particularly beautiful.

The hybrid of the two is very pretty, medium-large in size with an upright vase shape of narrow, somewhat stiff leaves of silvery gray. The inflorescence is a branched scape, about a foot taller than the rosette, with inflated pink bracts and light blue flowers.

A colorful hybrid of (capitata ‘Red’ x concolor ‘Cuicatlan’) by Bill Timm. Bill has been a prolific hybridizer of Tillandsias, creating quite a few unique crosses. This one is a medium sized plant about 12 inches tall when in bloom, with stiff glabrous green leaves in an open rosette shape. The inflorescence is about 6 inches tall with very long, stiff, scape bracts and a cluster of erect yellowish branches. The scape bracts and upper whorl or two of leaves blush deep reddish at anthesis. A colorful plant that will grow easily and add color to your collection. 

A beautiful hybrid of Tillandsia lenca (formerly fasciculata 'Hondurensis') x ehlersiana by Bob Spivey. At maturity this bulbous beauty produces a pastel pink erect inflorescence.

*Blooming photos by Bob Spivey

This clone of (concolor x streptophylla) surprised us with a strongly variegated sport a few years ago. We've been growing it aside since then to make sure the variegation is apparent in the offsets. We are pleased to report it is profusely variegated to the point of extravagance! The base of this beauty is somewhat bulbous with leaves that recurve downward in a sweeping arc. The leaves are stiffer than streptophylla and more lepidote than concolor. The inflorescence is shaped like concolor, but fuller, lanceolate and branched, pink with silver dusting. 

*Not recommended for beginners

An accidental hybrid, probably made by hummingbirds visiting a greenhouse, is almost certainly a cross of (balbisiana x pseudobaileyi). This plant occurred amongst a group of seedlings of Tillandsia balbisiana supplied by a South American nurseryman. The shape of the plant is rather classic balbisiana in all aspects including size. The leaves though are semi-terete and have the striping like the T. pseudobaileyi. 

The inflorescence is like balbisiana in shape and size but has the color of pseudobaileyi. One can never be sure of such a cross, but in my experience I have never seen a hybrid that appeared as obvious as this one. A very striking plant.

T. streptophylla x roseoscapa

This hybrid of (kolbii x bulbosa) by Grace Goode is one of only a few that she made, having been much more prolific with Neoregelia. An unusual cross using T. kolbii which is rarely seen in hybrids. (In fact, this is the only one we can find). T. kolbii is an ionantha-like, small grower and it gives its influence in the cross mainly with the inflorescence. The inflorescence is light pink, branched and held low amongst the leaves, with very long, leaf-like scape bracts. The general aspect of the plant is similar to the bulbosa parent, bulbous based, terete leaves held erect. At anthesis the scape bracts blush deep pinkish red.

A purported natural hybrid from Oaxaca, Mexico of Tillandsia tomasellii x fasciculata v. densispica, though such parentage can only be an educated guess but both suggested parents do live together in the area. A large grower with broad, deeply channeled, tapering, silvery leaves. The shape is an open rosette with the leaves growing in a recurved spiral.

The inflorescence is a tall scape, red but made pink by silvery trichomes. The scape bracts are long and leaf-like, blushing reddish towards the top of the rachis. A dozen or more stout branches of pale yellow form a loose cluster well above the foliage. This is a handsome plant with long lasting color.

A hybrid of 'Tropiflora' x chiapensis by Steve Correale. A large rosette of dark pewter colored leaves that taper to a point. The inflorescence is a cluster of upright, nearly cylindrical branches of deep red with a coat of trichomes that mutes the intense color to a deep rose. The inflorescence is short but with the branches exceeds the leaves.

*VIPP plants are small, in bud

A cultivar of (caput-medusae x fasciculata) by a hybridist unknown to us. A good combination of the characteristics of both parents; somewhat bulbous based upright rosette of moderately stiff, thick textured leaves of silvery-gray color. The inflorescence is erect with long, slender, glossy branches of dark pink and yellow. Scape bracts are leaf-like. A handsome plant and easy to cultivate. 

A large and showy cross of (variabilis x capitata 'Yellow') by Bill Timm. The plant can reach over 24 inches across in an open rosette shape with strappy, green leaves dusted with silver trichomes. The inflorescence is very tall, can exceed 24 inches and is yellowish with up to ten upright branches and long, narrow, leaf-like scape bracts. The overall look is pinkish to reddish-orange with yellowish sepals tipped in red. Flowers are long and tubular, bluish-purple.