A hybrid that we got from a friend some years ago that is of unknown provenance, to us anyway. It has “the look” of a Steve Correale hybrid but we do not know for sure. This cross was also done by Paul Isley and his cross is named Tillandsia ‘Mr. Mal Mele’, but it is not the same as our plant.

Ours has broad, recurving, silvery leaves and a slightly bulbous base. The leaves blush pinkish on the upper part of the plant at anthesis. The inflorescence is about as tall as the body of the plant overall, with long scape bracts. It bears 6 or more branches that are held upright at a 45-degree angle to the scape. Floral bracts are bright red with some silvery trichomes. Flowers are violet. A very attractive plant with a long-lasting inflorescence.

This species has been frequently confused with Tillandsia fasciculata. Plants of T. compressa that come from places other than the Caribbean are simply not. There are some forms of fasciculata and certainly others such as jalisco-monticola that have very inflated inflorescences, but they are only similar, not the same. Our plant is a form found in the Dominican Republic, with a large, open rosette shape and a massive inflorescence with several branches, all extremely inflated. The foliage is narrow, silvery gray and the inflorescence a stunning red and yellow with light violet flowers.

A Mexican plant with very stiff leaves in an open rosette of 6 to 8 inches. The leaves are yellowish, blushing reddish in strong light or full sun and it produces a shiny red to yellow-green, branched inflorescence with pink flowers. Easy to grow, preferring conditions on the bright and dry side. Can be suspended from a string or mounted on wood, cork, stone or other substrate. Suitable for dry terrarium use.

A striking form of Tillandsia concolor. This plant does not flush red, but remains golden yellow in color even while blooming. Very pretty.

From Argentina, grows as a saxicole on exposed rock or epiphytically in scrubby thorn bush, almost always forming large clusters. This caulescent species has a rigid stem and short, stiff leaves, all a dark grayish color, and bears large and very fragrant, white flowers.

A notably easy species to cultivate, tolerating a variety of conditions and light levels. Prefers to be kept bright, airy and on the dry side

The largest form, native to the desert valleys of central Ecuador. Often found growing as a saxicole or on cacti, this form differs from the typical in being much larger, with a bulbous base that can reach three inches in diameter and strictly upright, fine reddish-brown leaves. The inflorescence is longer, exceeding the foliage by several inches, branched and producing many yellow flowers which have a mild fragrance. An easy species to cultivate. Grows into a nice slightly stoloniferous cluster and does well mounted or potted in a very loose, well-drained media.

A real oddity. Showing characteristics of both parents, the influence of duratii is obviously stronger. A caulescent plant, with narrow, succulent silvery leaves like duratii, but leafier and more of a rosette shape like stricta.

Unusual for the cross, this same cross; Tillandsia edithae x albertiana, has been made several times in the past and is registered under at least two names. Both however have red flowers, as one might expect with a cross of two red-flowered parents. This one has large purple flowers, silvery pink bracts and nice silvery leaves in a leafy, upright rosette. This plant freely produces many offsets.

A fairly rare plant in cultivation is a denizen of inland forests in the northern Mexican states of Sinaloa and Sonora. This plant is hummingbird pollinated and has a branched pink scape with tubular flowers. The plant is about 6 inches tall with somewhat stiff, silvery leaves in an upright rosette.