A nice Paterson hybrid of concolor x brachycaulos. The leaves have a reddish tinge normally that will turn bright red when in bloom.

*VIPP Budded as of 08/04

A hybrid of (caput-medusae x balbisiana) definitely leaning more to the T. caput-medusae parent.  A bulbous base with long and twisting leaves that are more terete than flat. 

The inflorescence is a cluster of bright red branches on a short scape.  The plant is silvery with trichomes, but has a reddish blush in strong light and at anthesis. 

C.I.T.E.S. - The xerographica parent makes this plant ineligible for shipping outside of the U.S. Sorry!

This is a magnificent large grower that we imported from Guatemala back in 1992 is, apparently, a natural hybrid of (xerographica x aff. capitata). Although this is the same suspected cross as ‘Rio Hondo’ it is certainly very different. The ‘Rio Hondo’ has the look of the aff. capitata parent, with broad, curling, blushing scape bracts and a capitate head. In keeping with the recommended naming of natural hybrids after their collection locality (when known) we are calling this one ‘El Rancho’.

Our ‘El Rancho’ has the general appearance of the xerographica parent, with wide, deeply channeled, stiff, curling leaves and a tall scape with long and slender scape bracts. The inflorescence has many branches, narrow and mostly upright in a tight cluster and has a slight pinkish blush. The blue flowers are exceptionally long and exerted. This plant is also part of the collection at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, with an accession number of SEL1992-0266.

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 large robust species with thick, leathery leaves is a rock dweller from central Mexico. Reddish foliage in an open rosette and a showy, tall inflorescence of orange. A choice plant that is easy to grow and can be potted or mounted.

A natural hybrid of (flexuosa x funckiana) that we collected in Venezuela in the late 1990’s. This plant is from a completely different area than the one described by Gouda in 2002, but it likely would be considered the same taxa. Our plant is from the state of Carabobo on the old road from Valencia to Puerto Cabello, a long distance from the Merida locality of the other. We found ours growing on a rock, in light forest in partial shade. The Tillandsia flexuosa and funckiana in this area are quite different looking than the ones near Merida which is much higher in altitude and much drier.

An interesting plant with long, stiff leaves along a caulescent stem, silvery green in color, clump forming. The inflorescence is a thin scape no higher than the foliage, with large flowers of deep rose red that are tubular with flaring petals that recurve at the tips. A very interesting plant that leaves no doubt about its hybrid origins.

John Arden’s cultivar of (jaliscomonticola x xerographica) is nothing short of spectacular! A big, robust plant from two outstanding parents. Adapting the best characteristics of both, the leaves are moderately broad and tapering, arching in a 24 inch, silver rosette.

The inflorescence is massive, a tall scape with long, leaf-like, silvery scape bracts. A cluster of five or six inch long branches are mostly upright, red on the bottoms and yellow or yellow-green on top. Flowers are blue.

The plant will stay in bloom and color for most of a year. It is also said that this plant can be found as a natural hybrid in its Southwestern Mexican habitat. For lovers of large Tillandsias, this is a must-have! 

A saxicolous species from Peru’s desert valleys. Like a small, caulescent, silver tectorum, with inch long leaves. Grow dry and bright.

A species with long very thin, grassy leaves, that are stiff, succulent and form a spreading, funnelform rosette. Closely resembling Tillandsia hammeri, it differs in being larger, more spreading, less silvery and stoloniferous. The inflorescence has more and wider branches but is more compact and taller, among other differences. Native to limestone outcrops near Nizanda, Oaxaca, Mexico, it was first collected by Ehlers and only described in 2016. The many leaves form an upright rosette to nearly two feet tall with an erect inflorescence of pink bracts and deep violet flowers.

Formerly Vriesea hitchcockiana, now classified as Tillandsia,  hitchcockiana has narrow, stiff leaves in a graceful rosette.  The inflorescence is pink, branched and very tall, with lavender flowers.  Native from Ecuador to Peru, it is a saxicole or epiphyte in nature.  It bears certain similarity to Vr. cereicola but lacks the stoloniferous habit of that species.

Tillandsia hitchcockiana and Vriesea cereicola are two species of gray leaved Vrieseas that are superficially similar. Both have stiff leaves and grow in a more or less tight, upright rosette. Their inflorescences, an overall pink, can be simple or branched. Some basic differences are this; hitchcockiana is a dark brownish gray and does not have stolons, cereicola is silver and is quite stoloniferous. Both are epiphytic or saxicolous, cereicola is fond of growing on cacti, hence the name.