There are an estimated 700 different varieties of Tillandsia, with more still being discovered. However, not all Tillandsia varieties are easy to grow, and therefore only a limited number of varieties are sold commercially. There are several species of Tillandsia that are protected by CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna) and prohibited from being collected or harvested from their natural environment. Because of these restrictions, commercial Tillandsia growers have continued to expand their collections by developing a large number of hybrid species over the years, many of which have become nearly as popular as some original Tillandsia species. Tillandsia hybrids are also found in nature as plants cross-pollinate.
Tillandsia (as well as many plants in the Bromeliad genus) species can have many varieties within the species, and while these varieties share some common traits, they can have distinctly different looks from other varieties in the same species. The different traits that these varieties display is due primarily to the differences in their originating climates—how and where they are grown. Tillandsia, like many plants, will over time adapt to the environment in which they are grown, and these adaptations can gradually change the form of the plant as it breeds new generations. For example, a Tillandsia ionantha Mexican and a Tillandsia ionantha Guatemala will show different traits due to their country of origin.
While there are too many varieties to list them all in this book, in the coming pages we will discuss some of the more common and well-known Tillandsia varieties, as well as some of the rarer forms and hybrids.
Common Commercial Tillandsia Varieties
TILLANDSIA IONANTHA
The Tillandsia ionantha is one of the most common and widely-purchased air plant species. This species comes in many different varieties, with characteristics that are determined in large part by their geographic location of origin.
One of the most widely available ionantha varieties is the ionantha Guatemala. A larger ionantha variety, a single Guatemala can grow to be as large as 5” tall. Other common ionantha varieties include the ionantha Mexican, ionantha rubra, ionantha scaposa (kolbii), ionantha fuego, and ionantha peanut. Rarer varieties include the ionantha peach, ionantha druid, and ionantha zebrina.
The ionantha variety is generally a fast grower that is prone to grow in clumps forming a ball over time if left together.
Ionantha Guatemala
Origin: Native to Guatemala, with an average size of about 1/2” at the base, 2” in width, and 1 to 5” in height. Its leaves are spikey and thin in form and covered in trichomes, giving this air plant its silvery-green color, which transitions to a light pink/red hue throughout its bloom cycle. This plant displays a beautiful contrast in color when in bloom, sprouting stunning purple spike sprouts from its center, which emits a delicate yellow flower.
Originating from Mexico, this ionantha variety will grow to an average size of 1 to 3”. With high levels of sunlight, it will blush beautiful shades of red, yellow, and orange. Like most other ionantha forms, this plant blooms a delicate purple and white spike with yellow flowers. After the bloom cycle, the plant will produce offset, and eventually form a clump.
The Tillandsia ionantha Mexican has many spikey leaves. This mature specimen has grown vertically, a contrast to younger versions of this species, which can take on a rounder appearance.
Ionantha Rubra
Native to Central America, there are two different types of ionantha rubra: “soft” and “hard.” The soft form of rubra generally grows shorter and wider, with soft leaves that will blush a beautiful red color when given high levels of sunlight. The “hard” variety tends to grow taller and more vertically, with brighter green leaves, and when blushing shows bright pinkish-red tips. Both forms bloom like other ionantha varieties and produce pups after flowering.
Also native to Central America, this smaller ionantha variety is known for its bright red color, which can be maintained year round with adequate levels of light. A unique characteristic of the fuego is its significant change in shape throughout its growth process. Starting small as a short and wide plant, the leaves will tend to grow more upright as it matures, drastically changing the shape over time as it changes size. This form of ionantha will also pup after flowering, and can easily be grown into a ball or “clump.”
The ionanthan fuego, true to its fiery name, is known for its brilliant red hue. These Tillandsia have become some of the more rare ionantha species, due in large part to their coveted nature.
TILLANDSIA AERANTHOS
This Tillandisa species is native to Central America, and is a rather hardy plant in the right environment. Its leaves, stiff and slightly sharp to the touch, grow upward from the center in an almost cone-like fashion. Normally a beautiful, healthy green hue, the slender funnel-shaped leaves will blush as they mature. When in bloom, it emits a vibrant delicate flower in pink, blue, and purple tones, and this bloom can last several weeks. There are several hybrid versions of the aeranthos developed commercially because of its colorful blooms and symmetric appearance.
The Tillandsia aeranthos is coveted for its striking bright pink bloom.
TILLANDSIA BRACHYCAULOS
The Tillandsia brachycaulos is a green-leafed species native to Central America, including Mexico and Guatemala. It is semi-mesic, meaning that it prefers indirect light and higher levels of moisture. This is one of the few mesic varieties that can handle higher levels of light, and will blush a deep red when exposed to brighter light conditions. The brachycaulos can emit multiple blooms from the center of the plant, which produce a white and yellow flower. The flowers on these blooms, however, tend to fade quickly.
The Tillandsia brachycaulos has bright green leaves that grow in a circular fashion.
The brachycaulos x concolor hybrid Tillandsia blushes red when blooming, with a red flower.
The Tillandsia brachycaulos x abdita is a popular hybrid for its brilliant red color. This air plant’s natural color is often commercially enhanced with a red floral tint by nurseries, as is shown in this photo.
There are also several hybrid species of the brachycaulos, among them the brachycaulos x ionantha, brachycaulos x concolor, brachycaulos select, and brachycaulos x streptophylla.
TILLANDSIA BERGERI
The Tillandsia bergeri is a fast-growing species that is very similar in appearance to Tillandsia aeranthos (with the exception of its bloom stalk and flower). This type of air plant is very prone to clumping and, unlike most other Tillandsia, which have limited propagating windows, will continue to produce offsets year round. This enables the clump to get rather large pretty quickly. When blooming, the bergeri produces beautiful light blue and white flowers.
TILLANDSIA BULBOSA
This bulbous air plant species has two different varieties: the bulbosa Guatemalan and bulbosa Belize. The Guatemalan form is smaller and generally darker, while the Belize form grows much larger and generally has a brighter, more colorful appearance.
Both bulbosa varieties will emit a nice bloom tract with violet flowers. They will both also create pups around the base of the plant, and over time will grow to form a large multi-plant clump.
The Tillandsia bulbosa gets its name from its bulbous shape.
TILLANDSIA BUTZII
Native to Central and South America, this bulbous Tillandsia is dark green in color and dappled with spots in darker shades of green, black, and even dark purple. The slender leaves of the butzii grow upwards and eventually will cascade down, giving this variety a decidedly aquatic look. When blooming, the butzii will send out a tall bloom spike that emits violet flowers. Over time, the butzii will continue to produce pups and eventually form a nice ball of plants, which can be very hardy and require minimal care in the right environment.
Tillandsia bulbosas will form a clump if pups are not separated. This healthy clump of bulbosas will continue to grow more pups into a larger and larger clump.
This large-growing Tillandsia is found in Mexico, Cuba, and some areas of Central America including Guatemala. There are several different variations of the capitata that include capitata peach, capitata yellow, and capitata maroon, among others. The leaves tend to grow in a very elongated fashion, and will blush when starting the bloom process. Like the brachycaulos, the capitata will emit several purple bloom tracts that will display delicate white and yellow flowers. This type of Tillandsia prefers adequate moisture and indirect light.
The beautiful Tillandsia capitata is a personal favorite of ours for its full, beautiful shape.
The Tillandsia caput-medusae is sometimes referred to as “Medusa’s Head,” which is fitting given the plant’s serpent-like leaves. Generally bright green in color, this type of Tillandsia can also display shades of purple and will sometimes develop a silver appearance when placed in a very bright environment. When in bloom, it will emit a long bloom tract that extends above the plant and can be very colorful when given bright light.
Don’t stare too long at this crazy plant or you’ll turn to stone! Just kidding; go ahead and stare all day at this beautiful Tillandsia caput-medusae.
Native to areas of Mexico and Central America, this stiff-leafed variety is known for its bold colors and amazing inflorescence shown in shades of bright yellow, red, and green. This species of Tillandsia prefers bright light, and will blush shades of red with sufficient light.
TILLANDSIA FUCHSII (COMMON NAME: ARGENTEA)
Native to Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, and Jamaica, this unique Tillandsia is characterized by its small, compact base, from which many slender, pale, silvery-green leaves extend out in every direction, like wispy tentacles. It averages in size from 2 to 4” in height and 1 to 3” in width. As this plant matures, it will release a long and slender shoot straight out of the middle that blooms a beautiful flower from the tip. It will normally go through its bloom cycle in late spring, and it produces one of the most unique blooms of all Tillandsia species.
The Tillandsia fuchsii, with its bulbous base and wispy leaves that extend in a symmetrical, spherical shape, is striking enough on its own without any other plants. Here it hangs in a simple glass globe on a semi-shaded patio, enjoying filtered sunlight and temperate Florida air.
Appropriately named for its funky appearance, this Tillandsia twists and turns in all directions throughout its growth cycle. Grassy green in color with a small woody base and spiky leaves, it develops tiny pups that turn into larger clumps. As it starts its bloom cycle, it will turn bright red and soon after emit a beautiful, bright red “lipstick” bloom with yellow flowers.
TILLANDSIA HARRISII
This air plant is named in honor of Bill Harris, an avid air plant enthusiast who was murdered in Guatemala in 1985. This plant is listed on Appendix II of the international CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) agreement, meaning that trade in this species must be accompanied by a Federal Form A certificate that shows the plant was produced artificially and not collected from nature. Their average size ranges from 1” at the base, 2 to 3” wide, and 4 to 5” tall, although it’s been known to reach up to 8” in height! This hardy plant features soft, succulent, silver/grey leaves with an abundance of trichomes. The elongated leaves are symmetrical and grow around its long stem. These special Tillandsia will produce a long-lasting, bright red inflorescence with red and violet flowers when in bloom, a lovely contrast to its light-colored leaves.
The funky Tillandsia funckiana blooms a bright lipstick-red flower.
Known as the “Queen of Air Plants,” this is a very slow-growing epiphyte that can reach an impressive size. Its name (pronounced “zerografika”) is derived from the Greek words ξηρός (xeros), meaning “dry,” and γραφία (graphia), meaning “writing,” due to its elegant, artful leaves. Native to southern Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, this unique xeric Tillandsia is one of the most popular air plants among air plant collectors. Although they are now widely available, at one time their popularity almost led these beautiful plants to extinction. Because of this, this is also a species protected by CITES, and cannot be harvested from nature.
A birds-eye view of the Tillandsia xerographica shows its unique and impressive shape, its leaves curving in a giant sphere. It is easy to see why this is such a popular and coveted air plant.
These round, cushion-y Tillandsia can range greatly in size and can grow quite large over time. Small sizes ranges from 3 to 4” in height and 4 to 5” in width, and larger sizes range from 5 to 6” in height and 8 to 10” in width. Size and shape can also vary depending on how hydrated the plant is; drier plants will have more tightly-curled leaves, while a more hydrated plant can be “teased” out to have looser leaves. Silvery-green in color with thick, wide, curly leaves, this hardy plant is one of the few Tillandsia that can handle (and actually prefer) full sunlight. With consistent bright light, they can blush a reddish color. While slow to bloom, during its bloom cycle leaves will blush a light pink and a tall, spiky growth will sprout from the center adding a contrast in form and sometimes emitting a purple-toned bloom.
This “Queen of the Air Plants” is literally put on a pedestal by a sunny window. These stately Tillandsia prefer higher levels of sunlight than most Tillandsia, and can go longer between waterings.
This plant is drought tolerant and can survive in desert-like conditions, and because of this it actually should be watered less than most Tillandsia species. It can be misted as its primary hydration source, with a soak every few weeks. It’s important that after soaking these plants, you gently shake the excess water from the leaves by turning it upside-down, as this plant can easily collect and retain water in its wide leaf base.
This stunning plant can be displayed in a variety of ways, and due to its size is often displayed on its own. Due to its stiff curling leaves, it’s a great option to be mounted on a frame. This Tillandsia is also perfect as part of a floral bouquet, and can even be used on its own as an alternative bridal bouquet.
TILLANDSIA TENUIFOLIA
The tenuifolia is native to Central America and South America. It’s a thick and bushy air plant variety with stiff, sturdy leaves that grow in a natural curve as it matures. Tenuifolia’s grassy green leaves stem from a soft yellow base and often turn to a unique bronze color as it ages. During its bloom cycle, the beautiful pink inflorescence and royal blue to violet colored flowers will attract butterflies, bees, and birds if placed outside. There are several varieties of this species including Emerald Forest, Bronze, and Black.
This Tillandsia tenuifolia sprouts a pup from its tip, unlike many other Tillandsia species that produce pups from their base.
This simple but striking bouquet puts the Tillandsia xerographica in the spotlight, shown here with simple floral accents.
The pseudobaileyi is one of the more popular nature-collected species and is adaptable to many different environments. Within the pseudobaileyi species, there are two recognized varieties: Subsp. pseudobaileyi (found in Central America in Mexico from Chiapas north to Veracruz Nayarit) and Subsp. Yucatanensis I. Ramirez (found in the Yucatán Peninsula). One of most unique air plants in appearance, it has a tall, slender shape with twisting, cylindrical, tentacle-like arms. Its leaves are silvery-green in color and will display vertical maroon lines in the margins, similar to the brown lines on the skin of an onion. Its inflorescence also features a maroon-like color and eventually produces a purple flower with a yellow tip pollen at the end, the stem of which will stay prominent for several weeks to months. After the bloom dies, it will produce pups, which can remain attached to the plant to create a beautiful cluster or can be gently removed once the pup is one-third the size of the mother plant.
A hardy plant, this Tillandsia prefers light shade and a spray mist with an occasional soak, depending on its climate (it can be watered less often in a humid environment). Make sure it dries out completely before watering again to avoid rot.
TILLANDSIA VELUTINA
Known for its lush, soft, dark green leaves that curve out of its base in wide arcs, the velutina is easy to care for and thrives in bright, indirect or filtered light. As this air plant matures, its leaves will turn beautiful shades of yellow, peach, and pink. When it comes to watering, you should mist it frequently and occasionally dunk under water, afterward allowing water to fully drain from the base.
The Tillandsia velutina sits peacefully atop a piece of driftwood.
The Tillandsia stricta is one of the fastest growing plants from seed, and there are many different types of cultivars and hybrids. Some of the more common cultivars include: stricta soft, stricta hard, stricta silver, and stricta midnight, among others. Generally dark green in color, most strictas have stiffer leaves and will bloom a nice white and pink bract that will open to display white flowers. A very popular Tillandsia, these are generally easy to grow and will thrive in a large range of conditions, creating a nice sized clump over time if left intact.
The Tillandsia stricta has slender, dark green leaves and will bloom a beautiful pink and white flower.
TILLANDSIA JUNCEA
Tall and grassy, the juncea is native to Mexico and Central and South America. This variety can get rather tall, and though mostly green and silver in color, it will turn shades of dark red and yellow when blooming. The bloom spike can take several months to develop before flowering.
The tall and slender Tillandsia juncea is coveted for its unique shape. This air plant will continue to grow taller and more full as it matures.
TILLANDSIA TRICOLOR V MELANOCRATER
The tricolor is a stiff-leafed plant that grows in a rather upright position. It prefers bright, indirect light and humidity and will turn shades of dark red if given the right environment. The bloom spike gets rather large and displays three colors (hence its name): canary yellow, red, and dark blue. After blooming it can create up to twelve offsets, with some being created on a “stolon,” which is another section of the plant base that grows off to the side.
The Tillandsia tricolor v melanocrater is unique for its stiff, dark base.
When in bloom, the Tillandsia tricolor v melanocrater will produce unique bloom spikes, here shown in shades of red.
TILLANDSIA USNEOIDES (SPANISH MOSS)
Commonly known as Spanish moss, this type of Tillandsia is very prevalent in the southern parts of the US as well as in Central America, South America, and even in the northeast of the US. Generally found hanging from the limbs of trees, this plant will clump together easily and can create a dramatic look over time as it grows quite large. Throughout history, Spanish moss was also used for many practical applications, including mattress stuffing, building insulation, landscape bedding, and even in the stuffing for car seats in the early 1900s!
Collector Tillandsia Varieties
There are many species of Tillandsia that are considered rare or collectible and the list is actually quite large. There are some rare varieties that can be sourced somewhat easily, and a few of the more common ones are listed below.
CACTICOLA
This rare variety is found naturally in northern Peru, and has wide, soft leaves. This air plant likes bright light and more temperate conditions. When blooming, the cacticola will emit a large inflorescence that is shades of purple in color and will last quite some time. Its delicate flowers are white with purple tips, making this plant a very nice variety for any collection.
CAPITATA DOMINGENSIS
A miniature form of the capitata that can be found in the Dominican Republic, this plant is known for its continual burgundy coloring. This smaller form is easy to grow in humid conditions with bright light.
CAPITATA GUZMANOIDES
This rare variety of capitata is a deep red color in appearance and will bloom in similar fashion to other bromeliads releasing a large bloom tract that will last for some time. This variety of capitata is rather hard to find, and grows in very few places naturally.
EDITHAE
This silvery Tillandsia is one of very few air plants that produces coral-hued flowers when in bloom. Found on the cliff and rock faces of Bolivia, this variety enjoys bright, indirect sunlight and a lot of air movement. The edithae will create a good deal of offsets, which normally form around the base of the plant, evolving to a large clump over time.
A single Tillandsia edithae.
The rare Tillandsia cacticola produces a tall spike during its growth and bloom cycle.
When the edithae clump, they do so end-on-end and can form an impressive, snaking series of air plants.
TECTORUM
The tectorum Ecuador grows high in the mountains of Ecuador and Peru. Its appearance is fuzzy and silver, due to its abundance of trichomes, which help protect it from the sun as well as gather moisture and nutrients from the air. These xeric Tillandsia like lots of air movement, bright sunlight, and low humidity. These fuzzy snowball-looking plants should not be soaked, but rather just misted from time to time with water.
The fuzzy tectorum Ecuador gets its snowball-like look from its massive abundance of trichomes. These plants prefer bright light and low humidity and should only be misted—not soaked—with water.
Found in Mexico and parts of South America, this species of Tillandsia grows in a variety of elevation and forest conditions. Its appearance can be tight and curly if grown in drier conditions, and more open and wavy if given more moisture. These Tillandsia are normally green in color and will blush to a pinkish red color when exposed to higher levels of indirect light. The inflorescence is spectacular and can last for a long time.
The Tillandsia streptophylla has wide, noodle-like leaves. Here we see a large streptophylla with its roots intact.
Here we see a more tightly-curled version that has been grown with less water and light, affecting both its shape and color.
TILLANDSIA GARDNERI
Found in Central and South America, this silver-colored Tillandsia has soft leaves. It prefers higher levels of indirect sunlight and light humidity in a cooler environment. It will bloom a red flower bract with dark purple flowers.
The Tillandsia gardneri’s soft, silvery leaves showcase an abundance of trichomes, leading these plants to prefer more light and less humidity.
Found in Mexico to Central America, this larger, slow-growing Tillandsia is one of the largest bulbous species, and has a distinctly large, thick, bulbous base. Sometimes referred to as the ant plant, it’s not uncommon for this Tillandsia to be colonized by ants in the wild. Its coloring is generally green, with visible silver trichomes depending on its light levels. When blooming, the tips will lighten in color as the plant begins to flower.
The unique Tillandsia seleriana has a large bulbous base, resembling a sort of root vegetable.
With its silver appearance, the Tillandsia straminea is found at higher elevations where the temperatures are cooler and the air movement is high. This Tillandsia has many different variations, with the most common being a thick leafed variety and a thin leafed variety, and the thick leaf variety tends to grow larger. The straminea will bloom purple, fragrant flowers, and over time tend to clump together if allowed to do so.
TILLANDSIA DURATII
Considered a “must have” for most Tillandsia collectors, this unique plant is also thought to be one of the hardiest species available, and is native to the dry forests in South America. Its velvet-like leaves grow upward to start, and then fall under their own weight to create a unique base of leaves that collect over time as new shoots continue to grow from the center upwards. The duratii is also one of the few Tillandsia species that has fragrant flowers when in bloom. These delicate purple flowers have a grape-like scent and can last for some time. This specimen does best growing in a clump and will get rather large with many older plants reaching over 6’ in length. Usually the duratii is grown hanging, where it can develop its natural shape and structure over time.
The Tillandsia duratii is unique for its long, winding shape and fragrant blooms.
The endangered Tillandsia fasciculata hybrid leaves grow in a vertical fashion. This plant will produce an impressive bloom when in its bloom cycle.
Native to Central America, South America, and some parts of the southern United States, this type of Tillandsia will grow rather large and will display a large inflorescence that is quite colorful. This plant is generally found in the wild attached to large oak or cypress trees in areas with higher levels of moisture and humidity. This Tillandsia is endangered in the US, but this is mainly due to the natural infestation of insects, rather than illegal harvesting or over-collection.
TILLANDSIA CYANEA
This type of Tillandsia is commonly referred to “Pink Quill,” due to its large bloom spike that is bright pink in color and will last for a prolonged period of time. Native to the rainforest in Ecuador, this is one of a few Tillandsia species that can be potted in soil. The cyanea should be potted in a fast-draining mix, as used with orchids. Though slow to do so, when the cyanea does finally bloom, it emits delicate pink and white flowers out of its dark pink bloom spike.
Rows of Tillandsia cyanea sit happily in a greenhouse, all showing their hot pink “quill” bloom spikes.
This species is found in Central American and some parts of northern South America. A hardy, stiff-leaved Tillandsia, they generally have dark green and grey coloring that can blush shades of purple. Vernicosa will develop an inflorescence of a very bright orange color, which can get quite large, and will produce delicate white flowers when blooming. Over time, this variety will easily create multiple offsets and clumps.
The impressive Tillandsia vernicosa produces one of my personal favorite blooms—a tall, salmon-pink spike with delicate white flowers.
Some Popular Tillandsia Hybrids: Aeranthos x Stricta
BRACHYCAULOS X CONCOLOR HYBRID
This hybrid is from parent plants brachycaulos and concolor. Combining some of the best qualities of each plant, this hybrid has stiff leaves and is mostly greenish in color. With higher levels of indirect light, it will blush a bright red and then bloom with a dark red tract and purple and yellow flowers. This hybrid is a very hardy and colorful plant.
The blushing brachycaulos x concolor hybrid Tillandsia.
BRACHYCAULOS X STREPTOPHYLLA HYBRID
A hybrid of brachycaulos and streptophylla, this Tillandsia has green leaves that are soft and curly. With bright light, the leaves will blush a beautiful pink and red as it begins the bloom process. Its hardiness can be credited to the streptophylla, and it can grow quite large in size. This hybrid is also commonly known as Eric Knobloch, named for its creator.
The Tillandsia Eric Knobloch is a hybrid of brachycaulos and streptophylla. When blooming, as shown here, it displays a vibrant pink and purple flower.
BRACHYCAULOS X IONANTHA
This graceful hybrid of the ionantha and brachycaulos can grow taller than 8 to 10”, and with high levels of sunlight the new leaves will blush a beautiful pink and red. Due to the brachycaulos traits, this plant has softer leaves and a larger appearance. The ionantha traits include nice color and the ability to handle less moisture and higher levels of light. This must-have hybrid is also commonly known as Victoriana.
The brachycaulos ionantha hybrid Tillandsia, also known as the Victoriana, takes on the best of both plants, with softer, wider leaves of the brachycaulos, but the heartiness of the ionantha.
CAPITATA X XEROGRAPHICA HYBRID
This is a hybrid of Tillandsia capitata and Tillandsia xerographica. With flowing, hardy leaves that are long and silvery-green in color, it is a stunning combination of the two parent plants. During its bloom cycle, its leaves will blush and produce a beautiful yellow bract with bright, bold purple flowers. This hybrid will produce pups more quickly than its parent xerographica, due to the capitata’s propensity to pup. It gets its hardy nature, though, from the xerographica, and can tolerate more sunlight and less waterings (depending on the environment it is grown in). Instead of the common air plant watering method of weekly soaks and mistings, give this air plant an occasional quick dunk in water and lightly shake off any excess to prevent rot.
The impressive capitata x xerographica displays clear traits of both mother species, taking its heartiness and size from the xerographica, but producing pups more readily like its capitata heritage.
The fasciculata “tropiflora” has an impressive bloom spike and can grow to be very large in size.
A large growing natural variation of the fasciculata, this plant was originally discovered by growers visiting Jamaica. This type of fasciculata is thought to grow only in a few areas, and is rather rare. Growing to well over 30” at maturity, this Tillandsia will display a rather large inflorescence that is quite colorful and will last up to a year in the proper environment. This is definitely a rare collector’s species!
STRICTA X RECURVIFOLIA “HOUSTON”
Cultivated in 1982, the “Houston” is a hybrid of the Tillandsia stricta and Tillandsia recurvifolia. It ranges in size from 4 to 6” tall and 3 to 4” wide. The stiff leaves on the “Houston” air plant grow from the base in a graceful curve and “glow” with iridescent silvery-green leaves, their unique appearance due to their abundant trichomes. At the start of the blooming process, its leaves will turn a beautiful purple color. Once in bloom, the “Houston” will emit stunning pink and white flowers that last up to a month. It will flower once again in two years and produce pups. One of the faster growing air plants, the Tillandsia “Houston” is prized for the clump of offsets that it can reproduce. Even within this hybrid species, the “Houston” has two distinct varieties—one which blooms a light pink flower, and another, known as “Cotton Candy,” which blooms a very rich, dark pink.
The silvery leaves of the Tillandsia “Houston” provide a beautiful contrast to its bright pink bloom.
The Tillandsia “Houston” produces a bright pink flower when blooming.
This hybrid variety exhibits strong traits from both the xerographica and the fasciculata. It is very hardy, and will grow rather large. This Tillandsia will showcase a very large and impressive inflorescence that can last up to a year, and can be quite colorful when given high levels of indirect sunlight.
A close up of the bloom spike of the fasciculata x xerographica shows the dynamic range of colors it displays.
