The granddaddy of fragrant Tillandsias. Native to Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina where the trees in the arid Chaco are filled with this weird and wonderful, highly fragrant species. Having seen many thousands growing wild, I would have to call the plant a ‘vining’ species. The stem may grow to several feet long in older specimens and the leaves reach out and twist into tight curls at the tips. In nature, it may actually climb to the uppermost part of a tree in a few seasons, and many treetops are brimming with dozens of specimens reaching out into space.

The inflorescence is simple or may be branched but bears many very large purple flowers. The fragrance is very strong and a single specimen can perfume an entire garden. Does not root as an adult, so it must be attached with glue or wires to a mount. Best results may come from suspending the plant from a string or wire and hanging it in a bright airy spot. Easiest of all the fragrant Tillandsias to cultivate.

A medium sized species from Bolivia and Argentina, with very stiff silvery leaves in a spreading rosette. A tall, nodding scape with brownish bracts bears butter yellow flowers. Forms large clusters of plants in habitat and does very well mounted. Easy to grow and fairly cold hardy.

A Joe Carrone hybrid of (brachycaulos x streptophylla). An open rosette of light green, curling, silvery dusted leaves form a somewhat bulbous base. An inflorescence that has long, pinkish-lavender blushing bracts and a tight cluster of pinkish branches rises about 6 inches above the foliage. A handsome, easy to grow and prolific plant. 

A caulescent species with a stem to over two feet long with very stiff, thick, spreading, almost succulent, red leaves. The inflorescence consists of a rose-red scape with 3 to 6 narrow, silvery branches, the whole extending over a foot. Native to Veracruz, Mexico where it grows as an epiphyte in small trees under semi-arid conditions. Easy to cultivate.

A lovely Guatemalan plant to about 12 inches across with long, strappy, soft, velvety, greenish-gray leaves. When in bloom it has a capitate head with lots of blue flowers and the upper leaves and bracts blush an overall peach color. Beautiful and easy to grow.

It should be mentioned that this plant has been controversial since its original ‘discovery’ and introduction by Uwe Feldhoff of Guatemala in 1989.  Since then this species has been cultivated around the world and has been circulated with many different names.  At the advice of the late Harry Luther who recognized it as “likely a new species” but was uninterested in taking it on as a project, we called it cf. capitata.  It was grow by others and sold under the name capitata ‘Peach’ which is a name that we keep for a plant that we (and others) collected in Oaxaca, Mexico and that is quite different. 

The plant has also been known as ‘Rio Hondo’, which I still contend is a similar plant, and a likely hybrid with this species and is much larger, etc, but this opinion is not shared by the majority.  In the ‘old days’ it was also sold out of Guatemala as sphaerocephala which is itself a valid species from Bolivia and Argentina.  Confusion reigned until in 2015 Renate Ehlers finally did the necessary scientific treatment of this beautiful plant and described it as a new species; Tillandsia riohondoensis.

Native to Ecuador, but ubiquitous