An extra nice species from Oaxaca, Mexico where it grows as an epiphyte in deciduous forests on the western slopes of the Sierra Madre. A large grower to over 12 inches across with half inch wide gracefully arching, reddish leaves in an open rosette shape. At anthesis it blushes overall crimson. The inflorescence is a capitate head of tight branches on a scape about 4 inches tall with long, leaf-like bracts. In bloom it produces many purple flowers.

This hybrid of (leonamiana x ixioides) is pretty much what you’d expect of this cross. An open rosette of narrow, arching, stiff leaves of silvery gray and an inflorescence that is tall and slender with a few short branches at the top, silver dusted orange bracts and yellow flowers. Easy, prolific and showy.

From Guatemala. This cute little plant about 4 inches tall has a bright green bulbous base and twisted, wiry leaves that blush bright red when blooming. The inflorescence is a short scape with red branches and deep blue flowers. Grow shaded and moist for best results. Forms attractive clumps, can be grown hanging from a string. A must for every Tillandsia fancier. Good for terrariums too.

A cultivar of (capitata ‘Peach’ x concolor). A handsome, medium sized plant with an open rosette shape of fairly stiff, recurving, channeled, gray leaves. The inflorescence is about 12 inches tall, with long bracts and a clustered head of short, shiny, reddish branches and beautiful blue flowers. The upper part of the plant blushes peach color at anthesis.

The inflorescence is an extended scape with pink bracts and deep inky-blue flowers. Forms large clusters of plants that will bloom simultaneously in its season.

A beautiful cross of chiapensis x botterii, two southern Mexican species, by Steve Correale. A fairly large plant to over twelve 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 a central branch longer than the others, which are curved inward. The color is deep red fading slowly to greenish, all with a coat of silver trichomes, very attractive. 

This is a beauty and one of our favorite Tillandsias! We collected our original plants many years ago in Southern Ecuador and have propagated them since. An excellent species with many arching silvery-gray leaves in a 20 inch or larger rosette, with a beautiful branched rose-red inflorescence lasting for months.

Native to semi arid valleys and can often be found in trees near water courses. Somewhat of a slow grower but a spectacular plant at maturity. This species thrives with bright light and moderate watering and feeding.

A variable plant from Ecuador and Peru with several forms is the most caulescent of the latifolia family. In some instances the plants can reach an astonishing six or more feet in length. In cultivation they rarely reach more than 3 feet. The flower spike is glabrous and bright orange. The stem of the plant is up to 30 inches and more with dark grayish foliage that is broad and rather soft.

Mark Dimmit’s hybrid of the same grex as ‘Houston’, a (stricta x recurvifolia) cross. Larger than either parent, it has many silvery, semi-soft leaves in a full 8 inch rosette. The large semi-pendant inflorescence has bright rose-red bracts. A very showy plant!

A clone of (aeranthos x leonamiana). A robust beauty to 6 inches tall with stiff, purplish-green, silver lepidote, upright, recurving leaves. Lavender flowers and bicolor pink bracts are borne on a 4 inch scape. Very easy to grow. 

An accidental hybrid, probably made by hummingbirds visiting a greenhouse, is almost certainly a cross of (balbisiana x pseudobaileyi). This plant occurred amongst a group of seedlings of Tillandsia balbisiana supplied by a South American nurseryman. The shape of the plant is rather classic balbisiana in all aspects including size. The leaves though are semi-terete and have the striping like the T. pseudobaileyi. 

The inflorescence is like balbisiana in shape and size but has the color of pseudobaileyi. One can never be sure of such a cross, but in my experience I have never seen a hybrid that appeared as obvious as this one. A very striking plant.

A fine example of the variable divaricata group of latifolias. Common to southern Ecuador, it is found mostly in colonies on the ground in treeless desert areas. The plants form dense mats of hard, reflective silvery leaves, their tall shiny orange spikes glistening in the full sun. In cultivation, where conditions are relatively much less stressful, they grow somewhat larger than in their native habitats, reaching about 18 inches tall. Very slow growing.