duratii v. saxatilis x purpurea

A hybrid of (brachycaulos x schiedeana). Upright to 10 inches, it has rather narrow leaves and an attenuated inflorescence that forms a tightly capitate head. A late-spring bloomer, with rosy-blushing silvery leaves and yellow flowers. This is a very interesting and different-looking plant. 

A spectacular cross by Steve Correale of (chiapensis x fasciculata ‘Magnificent’) SC. A good blend of the parents; the basic shape of a fasciculata, but with more ‘substance’ and scurffing, like the chiapensis parent. The inflorescence has the shape of the fasciculata, which is an outstanding form native to northern Panama, but is a bit thicker and dusted with the silver thichomes of chiapensis. When well grown, one of the most spectacular of Tillandsias.

This cute little caulescent plant is a cross of (tectorum x paleacea) reaching about 6 to 8 inches long, with 2 inch fuzzy silver leaves. Not as fuzzy as the tectorum parent, but still very fuzzy. A very prolific, fast-grower, producing many offsets and forming clumps fairly quickly. The scape is about 6 inches long with purple flowers. Grow it hanging from a string or mount it. A very easy ‘confidence builder’ for beginners, but a nice plant for any collection. 

Paul Isley’s hybrid of (seleriana x ionantha) is a small grower, larger than the ionantha parent, but half the size of seleriana. The shape is largely like the seleriana; bulbous at the base with somewhat cylindric, tapering leaves growing upright to form a sort of teardrop shape. Very fuzzy and silvery with trichomes and it blushes reddish at anthesis.

The inflorescence is held within the foliage, without a discernible scape, unlike the seleriana parent. Very nice. 

A clone of (aeranthos x leonamiana). A robust beauty to 6 inches tall with stiff, purplish-green, silver lepidote, upright, recurving leaves. Lavender flowers and bicolor pink bracts are borne on a 4 inch scape. Very easy to grow. 

A hybrid of (mallemontii x duratii) by M. Patterson in Australia, it’s a pretty good combination of the two parents. Tillandsia duratii is a robust plant with a long stem and curling leaves, rootless in the adult form and producing a long, branched inflorescence with fragrant purple flowers. Tillandsia mallemontii is a plant with fine leaves, forming a tangled ball with many plants. The slender inflorescence is un-branched and produces a large, fragrant, purple flower. 

The hybrid ‘Wonga’ looks more like a skinny duratii with many curly leaves and a long, branching inflorescence. The stunning thing though is that the flowers of both parents are very fragrant and those of ‘Wonga’ are not!

With its clumping habit, brilliant rose bracts and inky blue flowers, this species is a gem of the Tillandsia world. From the ‘southern cone’ of South America, it is tolerant of some cold. Beautiful and undemanding.

If you like Till. aeranthos, you’ll love the variety aemula! Like a giant-growing form of the species, it is a very handsome and hardy plant from Southern Brazil. Somewhat more caulescent than the typical form, it has purplish-tinted foliage on a stem up to 12 inches long. The inflorescence is well exerted, about 6 inches long, with deep rose-colored bracts and deep blue flowers. Forms large clumps eventually, and can be grown mounted or just hanging on a string.

A species of Bolivia that forms heavy clusters of plants with moderately stiff, tapering, channeled leaves that are coated on both sides with silvery trichomes. An inflorescence exceeds the length of the leaves and is a simple spike with a green rachis and reddish bracts (bright red in nature) and very large, spreading white flowers.

From the State of Santa Cruz, this species lives on both rocks and trees at altitudes of 3,000 to 5,000 feet. We have grown this species for years here in Florida and find it easy to cultivate. It likes bright light, but protect from mid day sun in cultivation.