A large, stunning cross of botterii x chiapensis, by Steve Correale. Two species of southern Mexico, each a beauty in their own right. A large plant to about 24 inches tall with silvery leaves that taper to fine points forming a graceful vase shaped rosette.

The inflorescence is multi-branched, taller than the foliage, with many short, pink branches. This is the reverse cross of ‘Mixtec Treasure’ and does not much resemble that plant.

A hybrid of (streptophylla x flabellata) that forms a slightly bulbous-based plant with upright, channeled leaves, recurving towards the tips. The inflorescence is a loosely branched panicle with a central spike and five or so additional, long, slender branches growing at right angles, pink going green at the tips. The foliage has a good coating of trichomes giving the plant a velvety feel. Easy to grow mounted or even potted in an orchid-type, fast draining mix.

*Budded as of 4/18/25

A curious hybrid of cacticola ‘Splendid’ x duratii has some characteristics of both parents but really resembles neither. The plant forms an upright rosette of stiff, succulent leaves that taper to a curling tip. The inflorescence is upright, usually simple, dark purple with pale lavender flowers. Unusual.

Native Brazil to Bolivia and Argentina is a cascading plant with tiny green or grayish leaves on little stems. Clusters are handsome and produce little yellowish flowers. A widely variable species in the subgenus Diaphoranthema, it varies from very slight, wispy foliage to sturdy, fat stems that can hang to 12 inches or more. Our clone is from Bolivia and is one of the smaller forms that forms clusters and grows fairly rapidly. Grows naturally as a lithophyte or and epiphyte and enjoys good air circulation. Our clone is ‘growing wild’ in our shade houses where the seeds often germinate on the screens.

A rarely seen small grower from central coastal Mexico. Resembling a seedling of Til. streptophylla with its bulbous base and strap-like curly leaves, it differs from the later in lacking a scape. Please note: in cultivation this species tends to have a smaller base and narrower, less curled leaves.

Perhaps growing ‘harder’ would bring back the wild look. The flowers are formed on a short compound inflorescence. An unusual and desirable collectible.

A naturally occurring hybrid of (streptophylla x caput-medusae) found in Guatemala from time to time. A good combination of both parents. More slender than streptophylla with more terete leaves, but thicker and larger than caput-medusae. The inflorescence is branched and pinkish. Very graceful looking, vigorous and easy to grow.

A hybrid of arequitae x stricta. A robust cross forming a very leafy, silvery-green rosette with a tall, unbranched inflorescence. The inflorescence has subtle pale peach bracts and large light blue flowers. A strong grower that likes bright light and airy conditions.

A variety of T. mima from the area of Rio Jequetepeque in the Department of Cajamarca, Peru that was discovered by Prof. Dr. Werner Rauh and published in 1977. A saxicole in nature, it has extremely heavy, wire-like roots for holding fast to rocks. Differing from the other typical forms of mima in having narrow foliage, many leaves and a smaller size of only about 24 inches maximum and usually smaller. Like the other forms, produces adventitious offsets at the base and this form also produces them on the inflorescence as well.

The inflorescence is quite tall, over 3 feet, tripinnate and bearing dark violet flowers. Our plants came from Dr. Rauh many years ago. We find this species hardy but very slow growing.

A beautiful form of a bright red Mexican T. capitata that has been used by breeder Steve Correale for years to make many outstanding hybrids. There are other red clones of capitata from Mexico, but this one is a little different. A 15 inch rosette of thick, leathery leaves of deep, rich, wine red with an inflorescence the same color, and having great conformation.

At any rate, we have preserved this clone and we feel certain that there will be more hybrids of merit yet to come from pairing with this beautiful plant.

Prior description:

This ‘green form’ of Tillandsia edithae isn’t really green. It’s a form with more adpressed trichomes, giving the plant a more glabrous, less fuzzy, silvery appearance. In fact, in the summer here in Florida, the ‘silver form’ tends to get a bit of algae on the trichomes from the high humidity, giving it an actual green appearance.

Anyway, the ‘green form’ is different enough to warrant a cultivar name to distinguish it from the more typical, silver form. Other than that, the bloom and all aspects of growth are about the same, the leaves are perhaps a bit stiffer and a bit more compact but nearly the same as the silver form. Both are beautiful caulescent plants with short, broadly triangular, silvery-gray leaves and a stunning red-flowered inflorescence.

Native of Bolivia, they live a lithophytic existence on sheer rock cliffs, hanging in massive cascades. Care-free to grow, when mounted in a pendant fashion, they freely produce offsets along the old portions of their stems, soon forming large attractive clusters.

Note that in the second photo, both forms are there for comparison, even though it is hard to tell the apart in the photo. In life it is much easier!

*Recently (May 2024) renamed to T. iglari

Peter Tristram from Australia examined formerly, T. edithae 'Green Clone', and determines the genetic sequencing if different from the other species edithae. Thus naming this variety its own species, Tillandsia iglari.

Tillandsia paleacea v. apurimacensis  A small silvery plant that blooms purple. Cultivation is easy, grow mounted or simply hang on a string in a breezy, bright spot. Water infrequently and fertilize modestly.

A very orange-blushing clone of Tillandsia funckiana from the collection of Herb Hill.  We don’t know much else about it but as with all T. funckiana, it’s a species from Venezuela that grows on bare rock on exposed cliffs.  The blooms are brilliant crimson and appear in winter.  It, like all other T. funckiana, forms large clusters over time.  A superb clone.