Tillandsia

( tih - LAND - zee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This interesting genus of plants is commonly called 'Air Plant' because they draw the water and nutrients they need for growth straight from the environment around them. These plants will cling to whatever surface is available to them, and are considered either epiphytes (clinging to a surface) or aerophytes (growing on shifting desert soils). These plants are morphologically diverse, though most form a basal rosette of stiff leaves from which flower inflorescences sprout.

Syngonium Species and Varietals

The large genus Tillandsia includes 650 species, and is a member of the plant family Bromeliaceae. The genus was named for Swedish physician and botanist Elias Tillandz. Selected species are listed below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Tillandsia achyrostachys
This stemless species forms a basal rosette of light green to grey-green slightly recurved foliage. The flower inflorescence is a flattened structure with narrow green tubular leaves, appearing pink before the blooms open. The specific epithet achyrostachys (straw-eared) references the outer wrinkled cover leaves on the flower spike. This species is native to Mexico.

Tillandsia adpressiflora
This species is a silvery-green, stemless Bromeliad-like plant that is native to Central and South America. These plants can reach up to 20 inches across at maturity. Flower inflorescences produced are thin, yellow-orange and branching, raising well above the foliage.

Tillandsia aeranthos (Flower of the Air)
This species of Air Plant has many cultivars to choose from, and is native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. Foliage is dense and grey-green, turning maroon when the plant is in bloom. Flowers are purple and pink. These plants typically reach between 9 and 12 inches in height at maturity. Cultivars include 'Bergos', 'Bob Whitman', 'Cooroy', 'Ed Doherty', 'Eureka', 'Flamingoes', 'Kayjay', 'Mariposa', 'Nez Misto', 'Noosa', 'Oboe', 'Oliver Twist', 'Purple Giant', 'Tropic Skye', 'Veronica's Mariposa', and 'Winner's Circle'.

Tillandsia aizoides
Native to Bolivia, this species of Tillandsia is considered rare in cultivation and collection, and rarely reaches over an inch tall. Leaves are tiny and succulent, and brownish red flowers are also very small.

Tillandsia albertiana
This species is native to the Salta Province in northern Argentina and Brazil, and forms clumps of smooth green leaves that reach about 3 inches long. Flowers are red and bloom in summertime. After flowering for the first time, these plants form spherical clumps of pups. There are many cultivars of this species, including 'Lisa's Jewel', 'Mystic Albert', 'Mystic Burgundy'. 'Mystic Circle, 'Mystic Flame', 'Mystic Flame Orange', 'Mystic Rainbow', 'Mystic Rainbow Peach', 'Mystic Rainbow Pink', 'Mystic Trumpet Peach', 'Mystic Trumpet Pink', and 'Mystic Twins'.

Tillandsia albida
Endemic to Mexico, these plants produce light grey-green foliage and pink to magenta flower spikes that support light cream to greenish flowers. Two major cultivars of this species are 'Impression Perfection' and 'Tall Stranger'.

Tillandsia andreana (Andreana Air Plant)
This species is native to Venezuela and Colombia, and was first described in 1888. These plants Leaves are green and needle-like, growing in a rosette pattern. Leaves can take on purple, yellow, or pink tones when exposed to the right light and water, and leaf tips may turn red in high light. Flowers are red.

Tillandsia andrieuxii
Native to Mexico and Costa Rica, this species of Air Plant has whitish-grey green leaves and produces orange flower spikes. In its natural range, it grows mainly on Oak and Pine trees in cloud forests.

Tillandsia araujei
Native to Brazil, this species of Air Plant produces white flowers on pink stalks, and has green foliage. These plants form elongated stems of greenery, reaching over a foot tall at maturity. These plants do well as hanging plants, and are considered easy to care for.

Tillandsia arequitae
This species of Air Plant is native to Brazil and Paraguay. Flowers are white, borne on green spikes, and foliage is light greenish-grey. Cultivars of this species include 'Mystic Rainbow', 'Mystic Rainbow Peach', and 'Mystic Rainbow Pink'.

Tillandsia argentea (Silver-Leaved Air Plant)
These Air Plants are native to Cuba and Jamaica and are commonly cultivated as indoor plants. These popular specimens produce whisps of silvery-green thin foliage and take the form of a spiky ball. They reach between 2 and 3 inches tall at maturity, and produce pink flower spikes with purple and white flowers.

Tillandsia argentina
These plants are native to Bolivia and Argentina. They form clusters of foliage in cliffsides and rocky areas in their native range, and leaves are olive-green. These are very small Air Plants, reaching only an inch or two in height maximum. Flowers are bright pink, about a half-inch long, and are borne on short stalks. A popularly-cultivated variety of this species is 'Evita'.

Tillandsia ariza-juliae (Wand Airplant, Dominican Airplant)
Native to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, this species of Air Plant forms an upright, teardrop-shaped clump of greenish foliage that keeps its shape through maturity. Flowers are pink, eventually maturing to red and rarely reach past the foliage. A great cultivar of this species is 'Pruinariza'.

Tillandsia arroyoensis
This species of Tillandsia is native to Mexico, and was first described in 1983, classified erroneously as Tillandsia erubescens var. arroyoensis.

Tillandsia australis
Native to Bolivia and southern Argentina, this species of Tillandsia has a pink to magenta pendulous flower inflorescence and produces green upright foliage. Popular hybrids include 'Arden's Fireworks', and 'Twin's Brother'.

Tillandsia baileyi (Reflexed Airplant, Bailey's Ball Moss)
This species forms a tall, narrow plant with wispy, recurved greenish grey foliage. These plants are considered easy to care for and hardy. There are many hybrids and cultivars of this species, including 'Borumba', 'Califano', 'Festuball', 'Halley's Comet', 'Kanyan', 'Mark Aldridge', 'Rosalie Mavrikas', 'Tiaro', 'Veronica Orozco', and 'Wallu'.

Tillandsia balbisiana (Northern Needleleaf)
These plants are native to Mexico, Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Venezuela, the West Indies, and Florida, and there are many cultivars available to choose from, including: 'Dura Flor', 'Florida', 'Polly Ellen', 'Red Fountain', 'Royale', and 'Timm'.

Tillandsia bandensis
Native to Bolivia, this relatively rare species of Air Plants forms small clusters of rigid, dark grey-green foliage. Flowers are bright blue and leaves can take on purple hues when grown in bright light.

Tillandsia bartramii (Bartram's Air Plant)
This species was named for Floridian naturalist William Bartram, and forms clumps of foliage 8-16 inches in diameter. Flower spikes are pinkish, and produce white to cream-colored flowers. Foliage is very thin

Tillandsia bergeri (Mad Pupper, King of the Clumps)
This species of Air Plant is native to Brazil, and produces a clumping plant with greenish grey to purple leaves. Flowers are purple with white and yellow tones. Two popularly kept cultivars are 'Bergos' and 'Bob Whitman'.

Tillandsia bermejoensis
Endemic to Bolivia, this species of air plant has twisting grey-green foliage and produces magenta flower spikes that support white, tubular flowers. Plants are normally seen at around 3-4 inches tall, but can extend to between 4 and 6 inches tall when actively blooming.

Tillandsia bourgaei
This plant is native to southern Mexico and Central America, and was first published in 1887 by John Gilbert Baker. These plants form blue-green masses of vertical foliage from which pinkish flower spikes raise and support cream to white flowers.

Tillandsia brachycaulos (Mesic Air Plant)
This species of Air Plant is a frequently cultivated one, and has many varieties to choose from. These plants are native to Mexico, Central America, and Venezuela, and have varying shades of foliage colors from green to bright pink/magenta. Cultivars include 'Ask Harry', 'Betty', 'Calum', 'Eric Knobloch', 'Heather's Blush', 'Imbil', 'Laurie', 'Maria Theresa L.', 'Nashville', 'Neerdie', 'Richard Oeser', 'Rongo', 'Roy', 'Victoria', 'Widgee', 'Wolvi', and 'Yabba'.

Tillandsia brenneri
This species is endemic to Ecuador, where it grows in subtropical or tropical moist lowland/montane forests. These plants are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss in their native range. Deep green foliage has dark brown to purple spots, sprouting from the base of the plant and flaring out towards leaf tips. Flower infloresences are orange and support purple and white flowers.

Tillandsia bulbosa (Bulbous Airplant)
This species is found in Central America, the West Indies, and Mexico, and produces long, tendril-like leaves that are greenish-grey. These plants naturally attach themselves to branches in forests, on cliffsides, and to various plants in mangrove thickets. Flower bracts are magenta, and flowers are white and purple. Varieties include 'Canina', 'Chanza', 'First Born', 'Hyde's Silver', 'Joel', 'June Bug', 'Kacey', 'Mark Goddard', 'Rechoncho', 'Royal Sceptre', 'Showtime', 'Timm's Twister', and 'Veteran'.

Tillandsia cacticola
This rare, low-maintenance species of Air Plant has fuzzy silver-grey leaves and can reach 20 inches tall at maturity. Long-lasting flower infloresences are lavender and white, fading to pink before turning brown and dropping off the plant.

Tillandsia caliginosa
Native to Argentina and Brazil, this species produces long silvery green leaves that grow in opposite rows, creating a fan look. Leaves twist and bend in various directions towards the tips. Flowers are reddish-orange to orange-yellow.

Tillandsia capillaris
These miniature Air Plants reach just a few inches tall and wide at maturity, and are great for attaching to rocks and bark. They quickly form clumping colonies

Tillandsia capistranoensis
This species is a commonly collected Air Plant, and is native to Mexico, Honduras, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. There are many cultivars, including 'Bacchus', 'Lorenzo', 'Love Knot', 'Marron', 'Maya', 'Old Gold', 'Pink Velvet', 'Red Fountain', 'Rio Hondo', 'Vincente Bacaya'.

Tillandsia caput-medusae (Octopus Plant, Medusa's Head)
This species is native to Mexico and Central America, and bloom spring through summer. Flower bracts are reddish-magenta and blooms are purple and green. Many hybrids and cultivars have been created with this species, including 'Bruce Aldridge', 'Calum', 'Canina', 'Cheryl', 'Como', 'Gunalda', 'Imbil', 'June Bug', 'Litl Liz', 'Panuco', 'Pomona', 'Red Slippers', 'Sonoran Snow', 'Veronica Orozco', and 'Vicente Bacaya'.