We collected just one of these plants back in the 1990’s in Sumidero Canyon, Chiapas, Mexico where it lives on vertical cliffs along with other interesting species like T. ionantha v. vanhynningii. Since then we nursed it along until we built up a still very small stock. This is a choice plant with an open rosette of many very stiff, narrow, silvery leaves and a lax inflorescence of pink branches. Very slow growing, but worth the wait.

A form of the species that gains a reddish tint to the leaves, especially in strong light. Grows in a ball shape to grapefruit size, with wide strap-like leaves that twist and curl in fanciful shapes. The inflorescence is pink and branched with curling scape bracts.

The species is found from Mexico to the Northern half of Central America at or near sea level in hot, humid, brightly lit forests. The red form has been found in Belize but could occur anywhere. Grow mounted or hanging from a string so the leaves can hang in curls. Loves fertilizer and will respond by growing to impressive size.

We got this clone from Bob Spivey.

An all-time favorite from Brazil is about 6 inches across in a leafy rosette with stiff gray-green leaves. It produces a stunning blue-flowered, plume-shaped pink inflorescence in the summer. In nature this plant can be found growing on the restinga sands of beach dunes and in trees in the foothills of the Atlantic Range in Brazil.

THIS PLANT IS ON C.I.T.E.S. AND CANNOT BE EXPORTED

A beautiful and collectible Tillandsia from Guatemala which forms a large open rosette with wide recurving silver leaves and a handsome yellow inflorescence. Grown mounted or in a basket, the leaves will hang in long curls. Native to seasonally dry forests where they receive abundant sun and good air circulation, in cultivation does well in a hanging basket or a string ‘cradle’, just suspended in a bright, airy place.

A magnificent species now listed as endangered by C.I.T.E.S.