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.

Found near Rio Grande, Bolivia, this form seems to have straighter leaves than the typical duratii. The inflorescence is simple but bears many very large purple flowers. The fragrance is 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.

This hybrid by Bill Timm is a cultivar of (capitata ‘Domingensis’ x ‘Casallena’). A medium to large plant with an upright, flaring vase shape. The leaves are long and taper from about a half inch wide to a slender tip and are green with a somewhat blotchy purple veneer, coated with silver trichomes.

The inflorescence is taller than the leaves with long, leaf-like scape bracts and a large cluster of glossy, deep red braches held upright, and dark blue flowers. An handsome plant!

A probable cross of (duratii x stricta). A rosette-shaped plant with narrow, stiff, silvery-gray, succulent leaves spanning 16 inches. The inflorescence is an arching, branched panicle, purple in color with open, purplish flowers that have a fragrance similar to the duratii parent, but not as strong.

A natural hybrid of ixioides x bergeri from Argentina, with many stiff, silvery-gray, arching leaves in a tall rosette. The tall inflorescence is erect with tan to light pink, dry bracts like the ixioides parent and light blue, flaring flowers with twisted petals like the bergeri parent. Is hardy and very easy to grow, producing many offsets.

A rare, smaller relative of Tillandsia fasciculata from Jamaica, although our specimen sourced from the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (SEL 1986-0480) came from the Dominican Republic via Luis Ariza-Julia. It is unknown where he got the plant. Very narrow, silvery-gray leaves in an upright rosette to about 7 to 8 inches with a multi-branched inflorescence of bright red with light blue flowers. A very attractive, rare, small species.

This is the proliferating form of secunda from the area north of Quito, Ecuador. A large growing plant with silvery-green leaves in an upright rosette, which when in bloom produces its offsets on its inflorescence. The inflorescence is tall and branched, up to 3 feet or so, and usually bright red in color, and the adventitious offsets are produced at almost every internode. In nature it grows on the ground on rocky slopes in full sun. Popular with collectors, it is usually grown potted to gain size and vigor.

A large, stunning cross of botterii x chiapensis, by Steve Correale. Two species of southern Mexico, each a beauty in their own right. A large plant to about 24 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 many short, pink branches. This is the reverse cross of ‘Mixtec Treasure’ and does not much resemble that plant.

A curious hybrid of cacticola ‘Splendid’ x duratii has some characteristics of both parents but really resembles neither. The plant forms an upright rosette of stiff, succulent leaves that taper to a curling tip. The inflorescence is upright, usually simple, dark purple with pale lavender flowers. Unusual.

A nice hybrid by Bill Timm has unusual parentage: (fasciculata v. densispica x macvaughii). I do not know of another hybrid made with Tillandsia macvaughii. The plant is medium to large sized to about 24 inches across in a rosette of fairly stiff, arching, pale green leaves. 

The inflorescence is on a stout, short scape with red bracts that forms many erect branches of glossy yellow. Very long lasting in color.

This species is similar in some ways to Til. gurreroensis, but is smaller, with larger, almost fuzzy, trichomes. The inflorescence is simple, a pink spike with deep blue flowers. (The photo is lighter than actual) Discovered by Renate Ehlers, and named by her for her husband and collecting partner, Klaus. A rare gem.

A cultivar of (intermedia x streptophylla) by Mark Dimmitt. A bizarrely delightful plant with uniquely curling leaves and a colorful inflorescence. Taking the best characteristics of both parents, it has wide, strap-like, extremely curling leaves, a bulbous shape and a long inflorescence with many curly scape bracts. 

It will often offset from the inflorescence as does the intermedia parent and can form a chain of oddly twisting offspring. A choice plant for any Tillandsia lover and one of especially easy care. Grow bright and breezy and feed often for great fast growth.