7907
A pink form of this 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 heavily dusted with the silver trichomes over red that makes the inflorescence fuzzy pink like that of the chiapensis parent. When well grown, one of the most spectacular of Tillandsias.
2690
A nice hybrid of apparently (pseudobaileyi x intermedia) by an unknown hybridizer and registered by Bill Timm. Larger than either parent, it grows to about 18 inches tall. The leaves are terete, green and slightly silvery and the base is bulbous. The inflorescence is most like that of pseudobaileyi, erect, stiff, laxly branched and pink with silver trichomes.
2738
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.
515
A natural hybrid of (ehlersiana x streptophylla) from Chiapas, Mexico. There are those that believe that T. ehlersiana is itself a hybrid, so it is not surprising that it would hybridize with other plants sharing the same habitat. This plant looks like an ehlersiana in general aspect, a fat-bottomed beauty with wider, contorted, deeply channeled leaves, silvery all over with a more open, pretty pink inflorescence.
1611
An interesting species from Bahia, Brazil where it grows on exposed rock. Upright growing with narrow, 8 inch long leaves on a caulescent stem. The inflorescence is an erect spike, slightly taller than the foliage, terminating with a cluster of pink bracts and white flowers. A mature plant in bloom can reach 16 inches tall and 8 inches wide. Our plant is descended directly from the type collection by Elton Leme.
7004
A cross of (ionantha ‘red’ x bulbosa lg form) by Bill Timm. Kind of unique we think because usually anything crossed with ionantha ends up looking more like a big ionantha. Tillandsia ‘Luke’ is an exception, with a bulbous base and upright habit, it resembles the bulbosa parent. More silvery than green it also has many more leaves than a bulbosa.
When blooming the whole upper whorl of leaves and the inflorescence blushes red with blue flowers. It is a stunning plant, not large, but showy.
7940
A cultivar of a hybrid by Mark Dimmitt of Tillandsia ferreyrae x bulbosa, named by Bill Timm. Most resembling the bulbosa parent, but much larger with more leaves. This plant is dramatic looking with a bulbous base that is ‘egg shaped’, about 2 to 3 inches thick. The base is somewhat darkened, brown to almost black and the leaves, which are terete and taper to a fine point are green with a slight gray wash of trichomes.
The inflorescence is branched on a short scape, not quite as tall as the leaves. The braches and the leaf-like scape bracts blush bright red at anthesis. Flowers are two-tone, blue and white or pale lavender and blue.
8500
A spectacular hybrid of (concolor x roland-gosselinii). A large grower with fairly stiff, narrow leaves of dark gray, resembling a Til. fasciculata somewhat in an open rosette to about 24 inches across.
The inflorescence is nothing short of spectacular with five to seven, deep red, glossy branches on a scape that rises just above the center of the plant. Very long lasting in color. An exceptional plant!
Was a very nice grown plant. Hope I can keep the spots off unlike another roland-gosselinii i used to own
5720
A possible natural hybrid though I am not sure if the two species overlap. Anyway it occurred in a collection of plants imported years ago. A 6 inch, stiff, gray-leaved rosette with pale, papery bracts and yellowish-white flowers that fade to light blue.
2709
This hybrid of aeranthos x tenuifolia that has been in our collection for years, did not match the hybrid with the same reported parentage in the BSI cultivar registry, named ‘Flamingoes‘. Ours is a colorful, small, clumping plant with stiff leaves that are dark green and form a 3 to 4 inch rosette. The inflorescence has bright pink bracts and deep bluish flowers. In a tip of the hat to the ‘original’, we decided to call this one ‘Flamingo Redux‘.
8223
This is a giant form of Tillandsia pruinosa from Colombia. It is like the smaller or regular forms except that it is larger and does not color up at anthesis as some forms do. It grows to nearly 12 inches tall with a thick base. It might resemble a slightly more slender Tillandsia seleriana due to its size but is a pruinosa for sure. Up right leaves and a bulbous base, all covered with heavy trichomes. Nice.
3403
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!