A tall-growing form of this species of northern and central Peru where it lives as an epiphyte in thorn forests of the arid foothills in the eastern Andes. Many variations, forms and cultivars have been selected from this species that long been popular with hobbyists.

This form has a long stem with many broad, curling, silvery leaves. The inflorescence is about 18 to 24 inches tall, above the foliage, and is topped with a cluster of pinkish-lavender branches. In nature this plant grows in mostly full sun in an arid climate, receiving most of its moisture from nightly fogs.

For best results keep in a bright and airy location.

*VIPP plants are in bud as of 3/28/25

A very nice specimen of this variable species from Mexico, with grayish-green leaves in an upright rosette. The inflorescence is a torch-like head of bright yellow bracts that is long lasting and colorful. Much larger than the standard capitata form, this one can grow up to 24 inches!

A lithophyte in nature, it can be grown mounted or potted in a well-draining mix.

A hybrid made in the 1970s by Luis Ariza Julia of the Dominican Republic. A cultivar of Til. ariza-juliae x pruinosa, both species native to the Dominican Republic. The plant is a small grower to about 10 inches tall but with terete leaves and a small bulbous base. The color is gray-silver with heavy trichomes.

The inflorescence is a simple spike of pink about half as tall as the foliage. Easily forms clusters and is well suited to mounting. Grow in bright light out of full sun.

An especially cute little hybrid by Paul Isley. A cultivar of Tillandsia pueblensis x ionantha. Like most Tillandisa hybrids with ionantha, it tends to favor that species. However, it does have a good resemblance to the pueblensis parent with longer, thicker leaves. The overall shape is upright with a long stem and three inch, deeply channeled leaves tapering to a point growing upright along the stem. The color is deep green dusted with abundant silvery trichomes.

The inflorescence, deep rose in color, is a short, upright, scape rising slightly above the foliage. Flowers are deep blue. Forms clusters and will tint slightly in bright light but does not blush when blooming. A great little plant.  

A species related to Tillandsia xiphioides has relatively few, stiff leaves in an open rosette, with a lanceolate inflorescence of yellow. Flowers are yellow, but unlike xiphioides, not fragrant. We found this species growing on rocks in the full sun, not far from the Rio Santa Rosa in central Bolivia.

Crossing the Santa Rosa in our little jeep, we were nearly swept away when the water got as deep as our door handles! This rare plant had not been in cultivation in the U.S. before then. Grow bright with good air circulation. Restrict water in winter.

Bob Spivey’s hybrid is a cultivar of (funckiana x kegeliana), two red-flowered Tillandsias that are not as unrelated as they might appear. The flowers are in fact quite similar in both, though the foliage is dramatically different. The hybrid much more closely resembles the funckiana parent but differs in being more robust with longer leaves and having multiple flowers. It keeps the nice clustering habit of the funckiana parent.

A stunning hybrid that is a happenstance of nature. We imported a number of wild bromeliads from Mexico back in the 1980's and early '90s and this plant and one or two others of apparently the same natural cross: (streptophylla x botterii) were among them.

A large grower with characteristics of both parents. The basic shape of botterii along with the shape of the inflorescence but the thick texture and silvery trichomes of streptophylla. An upright, spreading vase, bulbous at the base, with silvery, half inch wide, fairly stiff, channeled leaves. The inflorescence is large, taller than the foliage with a red rachis and long, petiolate branches that are mostly yellow. A dramatic, beautiful plant. 

A Tropiflora hybrid by Ray Lemeiux of Tillandsia concolor 'Cuicatlan' x Tillandsia fasciculata 'Tropiflora' has long stiff tapering green leaves that reach approximately 16 inches from base to tip. The inflorescence is branched with red and green brachts. 

*VIPP plants are budded as on 3/28/25

Formerly known as fasciculata v. clavispica before the Mexican plants native to the state of Veracruz of this species were given their own name. A large grower to 30 inches overall, with an upright habit. Tall, graceful leaves and a tall scape with long, narrow red or red tipped branches.

This is a cross of stricta x vernicosa that came to us under formula without any specified hybridizer. We are therefore taking this one at ‘face value’ so to speak. A leafy, upright, funnel form rosette of fairly narrow, semi-stiff, gray green leaves that tint dark reddish in strong light.

The inflorescence is pink and forms a scape with tight branches bearing white flowers. Long lasting in color.