This cross was genius, or maybe dumb luck, but at any rate it ended up fantastic. A cross of (fasciculata x flagellata) by Chester Skotak, it blends two of the best Tillandsias out there. Ecuadorean T. flagellata is itself a gem, with many narrow, soft leaves in a gracefully arching rosette. The inflorescence is brilliant red. This hybrid takes all the best of that species and blends it with the vigor of fasciculata and the robust bloom of both. Beautiful but slow, but like all good things, worth waiting for. 

The giant growing version of T. 'Imbroglio'. 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.

*VIPP plant for 6/1/26 is a double-headed specimen

A handsome miniature hybrid by Mark Dimmitt using Tillandsia ionantha crossed with funckiana, both red-blushing species. The hybrid is somewhat caulescent with densely packed, short, succulent leaves on a 3 inch stem. The plant can blush bronzy-red in strong light especially if not over fed, but at anthesis it blushes somewhat crimson. The flowers are compact and purple in color. Easily forms small clumps after anthesis. 

A clone of (seleriana x tricolor) by Bill Timm. A unusual hybrid that produces a bulbous base with upright, terete leaves dusted with silvery trichomes. The inflorescence is branched, rose-red with blue flowers and emerges from the leaves to one side of the rosette.

A nice Paterson hybrid of concolor x brachycaulos. The leaves have a reddish tinge normally that will turn bright red when in bloom.

A large-growing Tillandsia that fits closer with fasciculata than anything else, with silvery-gray leaves to 24 inches long in a very large and full rosette. The inflorescence is massive, reaching well above the foliage on a thick scape, supporting a head of up to 20 fat bright-red bracts up to 8 inches long and an inch thick.

The inflorescence lasts in good color for over a year. A likely natural hybrid of fasciculata x compressa that we got from Jamaica over 40 years ago.

An interesting sport of the species, this produces a white inflorescence rather than the usual pink. Only a few available.

An interesting novelty that occurred in the collection of Bert Foster about 25 years ago and has persisted ever since. An otherwise normal ionantha but with even breaks in the trichomes, forming a banded pattern. Very decorative miniature measuring approximately 2 inches tall.

*MINIATURE TILLANDSIA*

There seem to be two forms of Tillandsia jaliscomonticola from Mexico's desert southwest, one that produces a simple, un-branched, but large spike and one that produces an inflorescence with multiple branches. The branched form produces from three to six or more branches that are thickly inflated, and form an upright cluster at the top of the rachis. Colors are stunning, bright red below and bright yellow above, and lasting for months, make this a top choice of showy Tillandsia species. The foliage is narrow and channeled, in an open, arching rosette. A spectacular plant that is easy to cultivate, warm and breezy.