A caulescent species from Brazil with dark, recurved greenish leaves on a 6 to 8 in stem. The inflorescence is a simple red spike which stays in color for months. Forms large clusters and does well mounted.

A Mexican species from Sinaloa state, our plant is a piece of the type plant collected by Harry Luther in 1993 and described in 1997. A clumping 'needle leaved' species that closely resembles the Florida endemic simulata. Tapering leaves are quite succulent and densely lepidote. The inflorescence is about as long as the foliage with up to six branches, silvery lepidote over green and bearing tubular purple flowers. Found in clusters growing on Bombax trees at about 3,500 feet of altitude.

A three inch ball of silvery needles with a bright orange, six inch bloom spike. That about sums up this beautiful Mexican miniature Tillandsia from southwest Mexico. Native to medium altitudes in semi-arid, deciduous forests, this plants loves bright light and breezy conditions. Ageotropic, it can grow in any direction and is often found growing upside down in nature. This species used to be quite common in the trade, but when Mexico closed down to collecting some years back, only captive-bred plants are available and this is not noted to be a fast grower. Easy to cultivate, best mounted.

A somewhat controversial species, we originally obtained this plant as Tillandsia pucaraensis and have kept the original name. From Northern Peru with semi-soft gray foliage and a branched pink inflorescence, the narrow leaves form a leafy, upright rosette.

We have different clones from other growers but this one most closely agrees with Ehlers' original description and many other illustrated pucaraensis. There is no way for us to resolve the question of guelzii or pucaraensis but we can refer you to the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies website for further discussion.

Our original photo (shown with bloom spike) is of a wild-collected plant. Our current generation of plants (photo without inflorescence) are much more lush due to the excellent care of our Tillandsia grower, Veronica, and her crew.

A Mexican cliff-dwelling species that has been oft confused with Til. utriculata v. pringleyi. This plant has scurfy, almost fuzzy silver leaves, grows in a somewhat recurved shape in a six to ten inch upright rosette and has a simple pinkish scape. A good species for mounting as it is very prolific and will form a nice clump in a relatively short time. This is an easy species requiring no special care. In general, grow bright, on the dry side.

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.

Tillandsia 'Pink Sensation' (streptophylla x brachycaulos)

This species native to medium to high altitudes in semi-arid scrub in Ecuador and northern Peru is in my opinion a new taxa. As an epiphyte or saxicole, it is consistently a smallish plant with slender, gray leaves to about 8 inches tall in a leafy, upright rosette. The inflorescence is on a tall, slender scape and consists of a cluster of light red branches with blue flowers.

The controversial side of this species is that it also can be found as a really much larger growing plant with an open rosette of very stiff leaves and a much more robust, bright red inflorescence. Similar, but very different in size and appearance. You never find plants in between these extremes and the two ‘forms’ are often found growing together. I believe that this smaller form is a different species or at least a distinct form or subspecies.

Anyway, this is still a showy plant and easy to cultivate but still enjoys cooler temps and pure water if available. That said, we have successfully cultivated this plant here in Florida for over 20 years.

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.

Formerly Tillandsia pucarensis this species from Peru is a fairly large plant with semi-soft gray foliage and an erect simple or barely branched pink inflorescence. The narrow leaves form a leafy, upright rosette. This clone came to us from Germany with the accession code of BOE0A456.

A Mark Dimmitt hybrid of streptophylla x pseudobaileyi. The shape of the plant is bulbous with silvery green foliage. Grows up to 16 inches with a soft pink and green branched inflorescence.

 

This large growing form comes mainly from Costa Rica. It has a bulbous base, green all over, shaped like an egg, with twisted wiry leaves. Bizarre.

Easy to grow mounted in a bright spot, out of full sun. Enjoys frequent watering and feeding for best results. This giant form may reach 10 to 14 inches tall or more with a base up to 5 inches long and two inches thick.

This is a different clone than our Giant Red Form