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.

Native Brazil to Bolivia and Argentina is a cascading plant with tiny green or grayish leaves on little stems. Clusters are handsome and produce little yellowish flowers. A widely variable species in the subgenus Diaphoranthema, it varies from very slight, wispy foliage to sturdy, fat stems that can hang to 12 inches or more. Our clone is from Bolivia and is one of the smaller forms that forms clusters and grows fairly rapidly. Grows naturally as a lithophyte or and epiphyte and enjoys good air circulation. Our clone is ‘growing wild’ in our shade houses where the seeds often germinate on the screens.

A rarely seen small grower from central coastal Mexico. Resembling a seedling of Til. streptophylla with its bulbous base and strap-like curly leaves, it differs from the later in lacking a scape. Please note: in cultivation this species tends to have a smaller base and narrower, less curled leaves.

Perhaps growing ‘harder’ would bring back the wild look. The flowers are formed on a short compound inflorescence. An unusual and desirable collectible.

A hybrid of (stricta x edithae) by Margaret Patterson. This is one of those rare kinds of hybrids that when you see it bloom for the first time, you can't believe how stunning and unique it is. A very leafy, full rosette of many fairly stiff leaves that are dark silvery gray and fairly lepidote. The inflorescence is outstanding, brilliant red bracts in a cylindrical inflorescence with dark purple flowers. A gem. 

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 really nice hybrid of (hammeri x concolor ‘Cuicatlan’) by Bill Timm. What a neat combination, a tall, stiff leaved, upright plant crossed with a stiff leaved open rosette type with a beautiful inflorescence. It worked! This is a jewel with stiff, upright, very narrow foliage, and a showy, branched inflorescence that is upright, taller than the foliage and pink and green to reddish. Interestingly enough, both species occur in the same area of Mexico! 

A naturally occurring hybrid of (streptophylla x caput-medusae) found in Guatemala from time to time. A good combination of both parents. More slender than streptophylla with more terete leaves, but thicker and larger than caput-medusae. The inflorescence is branched and pinkish. Very graceful looking, vigorous and easy to grow.

A hybrid of arequitae x stricta. A robust cross forming a very leafy, silvery-green rosette with a tall, unbranched inflorescence. The inflorescence has subtle pale peach bracts and large light blue flowers. A strong grower that likes bright light and airy conditions.

A variety of T. mima from the area of Rio Jequetepeque in the Department of Cajamarca, Peru that was discovered by Prof. Dr. Werner Rauh and published in 1977. A saxicole in nature, it has extremely heavy, wire-like roots for holding fast to rocks. Differing from the other typical forms of mima in having narrow foliage, many leaves and a smaller size of only about 24 inches maximum and usually smaller. Like the other forms, produces adventitious offsets at the base and this form also produces them on the inflorescence as well.

The inflorescence is quite tall, over 3 feet, tripinnate and bearing dark violet flowers. Our plants came from Dr. Rauh many years ago. We find this species hardy but very slow growing.

A beautiful form of a bright red Mexican T. capitata that has been used by breeder Steve Correale for years to make many outstanding hybrids. There are other red clones of capitata from Mexico, but this one is a little different. A 15 inch rosette of thick, leathery leaves of deep, rich, wine red with an inflorescence the same color, and having great conformation.

At any rate, we have preserved this clone and we feel certain that there will be more hybrids of merit yet to come from pairing with this beautiful plant.

A very orange-blushing clone of Tillandsia funckiana from the collection of Herb Hill.  We don’t know much else about it but as with all T. funckiana, it’s a species from Venezuela that grows on bare rock on exposed cliffs.  The blooms are brilliant crimson and appear in winter.  It, like all other T. funckiana, forms large clusters over time.  A superb clone.

A plant of some mystery. Central American forms of concolor are still offered as acostae, as are some forms of fasciculata. In fact, I am not certain that anyone really knows what exactly Tillandsia acostae is. This species is now considered to be rhomboidea, though we also have that species and this one is different in some ways.

Our plants came from Costa Rica many years ago. At the time we showed the plants to Prof. Dr. Werner Rauh who gave us the name. Over the years we have never seen another ‘real’ acostae, and I guess we never will as it is now not recognized. It is a compact, stiff leaved plant with a dark orange, inflorescence with four or more branches that are almost oval in cross section. Rather slow growing but worth the wait!