Species

A medium-sized species with stiff, recurved gray-green leaves. It produces a colorful, long-lasting pink inflorescence with yellow-green flowers.

Aechmea aculeatosepala is a bromeliad species in the family Bromeliaceae, native to Brazil. It forms a rosette of strap-shaped leaves with spiny margins and produces an inflorescence with bracts and flowers typical of the genus Aechmea.

Tillandsia acuminata is a bromeliad in the genus Tillandsia, native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is an epiphytic species with elongated, narrow leaves that taper to a fine point, and produces a spike inflorescence with small tubular flowers.

Rare species endemic to Jamaica. Features gray-green leaves and a simple or few-branched inflorescence.

An epiphytic species native to southern South America, characterized by reliable blooming and ease of cultivation. Forms dense cushions up to 30 cm tall with stiff, silver-green leaves arranged in a cone-like rosette. Produces inflorescences with rosy-pink bracts and blue-violet flowers that attract hummingbirds. One of the hardiest Tillandsias, tolerating temperatures near freezing. Similar in appearance to T. bergeri but distinguished by its flowering characteristics and offset production pattern.

Tillandsia albertiana is a small, clump-forming bromeliad native to northwestern Argentina. It produces narrow, silvery-green leaves covered in trichomes, arranged alternately along the stem. The species bears vivid red three-petaled flowers that emerge directly from the leaf axils without a visible peduncle.

Critically endangered species endemic to Alcatrazes Island. Large rosette with green leaves.

An epiphytic species native to the Caribbean region, described by L.B. Smith in 1949. It has slender, tapering leaves and a branched inflorescence. The species is relatively uncommon in cultivation compared to other members of the genus.

Aechmea aquilega is a bromeliad species in the family Bromeliaceae, native to northern South America and the Caribbean. It forms a rosette of stiff, strap-shaped leaves with serrated margins and spines along the edges. The inflorescence is a compound spike bearing small flowers, typically followed by colorful berries that persist on the plant for an extended period. This species is often epiphytic in its natural habitat but can also grow terrestrially.

A caulescent species with stiff, succulent, recurved leaves growing along a sturdy stem. It often grows on rocks near the ocean, tolerating salty air.

A striking lithophyte with rigid, silvery-white leaves forming a large, symmetric rosette. Known for its beautiful white flowers.

Often confused with T. fuchsii, the true T. argentea has a branching inflorescence, clear leaf sheaths, and produces bright red flowers. Forms a small, grassy tuft.

Tillandsia arpocalyx is a small to medium-sized epiphytic bromeliad in the family Bromeliaceae, native to Mexico. It forms a compact rosette of narrow, silvery leaves densely covered with trichomes. The inflorescence produces tubular flowers characteristic of the genus Tillandsia.

A lithophytic species with a compact rosette of tapering leaves. It is native to high-altitude rocky regions.

A medium-sized pseudobulbous species described by Rose ex Small. The plant reaches 25 to 35 cm in height and forms a swollen, hollow base from which few long, flexible, silvery-grey leaves extend and recurve. The leaf surfaces are densely covered with trichomes. The inflorescence is simple, bearing pink floral bracts and tubular mauve to purple flowers approximately 3 cm in length. The species is myrmecophytic; in its natural habitat, the hollow pseudobulb frequently harbors ant colonies. It produces offsets freely from the base and readily forms clumps. The species grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome as an epiphyte, with preferred host trees including Quercus virginiana and Ebenopsis ebano.

A widely distributed pseudobulbous species described by Schultes & Schultes f. in 1830, with the common name northern needleleaf. The plant forms clumps of 2 to 10 pseudobulbs, reaching up to approximately 60 cm in height when in bloom. The leaves are strongly recurved, covered with dense appressed lepidote trichomes, with an acuminate apex, reaching up to 40 cm in length. The inflated leaf bases form a bulging rosette approximately 14 cm long. The inflorescence is a spike up to approximately 18 cm long, with reddish-yellow bracts subtending purple flowers. The sepals are green and unfused, petals are purple, and the 6 stamens are exserted beyond the petals. The fruit is a capsule with tufted seeds for wind dispersal. The species grows in the seasonally dry tropical biome, primarily as an epiphyte on shrubs and trees in dry broadleaf evergreen formations.

Native to the dry coastal regions of Ecuador. It forms a rosette of gray-green leaves and produces a striking inflorescence with pinkish bracts and dark petals.

A distinctive species from central Paraguay with dull, light grey leaves covered in trichomes. Related to T. lorentziana but distinguished by two-colored floral bracts (dark green at base, reddish toward apex) and white flowers. Endemic to the mountainous regions of Paraguay.

An epiphytic species described by Rauh in 1974, placed in subgenus Tillandsia (= Platystachys). The rosette reaches approximately 40 cm in height with a moderately bulbous base about 10 cm in diameter. The leaf sheaths are roundish-oval, densely covered with dark brown appressed trichomes. The leaf blades are narrowly triangular, up to 30 cm long and 2 cm wide near the sheath, involute, with dense grey appressed trichomes beneath and sparse trichomes above. The scape is 5 to 15 cm long, shorter than the rosette, erect but curving downward at the apex. The inflorescence is pendulous, up to 40 cm long, bipinnate, with narrow spikes bearing bicolored floral bracts in orange-yellow and green. The flowers are yellow. The species grows primarily in the wet tropical biome of Ecuador.

Tillandsia belloensis is a small to medium-sized epiphytic bromeliad in the family Bromeliaceae, endemic to Guatemala. It forms a compact rosette of narrow, silvery-gray leaves densely covered in trichomes. The inflorescence bears pink to red bracts with violet to purple tubular flowers.

Tillandsia bergeri is a small to medium-sized epiphytic bromeliad native to Argentina. It produces narrow, silvery-green leaves arranged in a rosette and bears tubular blue to violet flowers. It is known for producing numerous offsets, forming dense clusters over time.

Tillandsia boliviana is a bromeliad species in the family Bromeliaceae, native to Bolivia and surrounding Andean regions. It forms rosettes of narrow, silvery-green leaves covered in trichomes, which aid in water and nutrient absorption. It produces a spike inflorescence with tubular flowers.

A striking species from Peru, known for its large size and pink floral bracts. It grows on rock faces or trees.

A species native to Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, described as new to science in 2013. It is morphologically most similar to Tillandsia didisticha.

A large, impressive species from the mountains of Mexico. It features a large rosette of silver-gray leaves and a tall, branched inflorescence.

A Tillandsia native to dry woods and forests from Mexico to Venezuela. Forms a spreading rosette of long, attenuate leaves covered with finely appressed scales. Characterized by its color transformation—the entire plant changes from silvery-green to rosy pink, intensifying to cherry red during flowering. The species name means "short stem" in Greek, referring to its compact inflorescence. Often found growing alongside T. ionantha and T. xerographica in its native habitat.

Endemic to the high Andes of Colombia. This species resembles Tillandsia turneri but is smaller, growing in sub-paramo vegetation.

Native to Paraguay. It features a rosette of stiff, recurved, silver-gray leaves and produces a simple or digitate inflorescence.

Endemic to Peru. It is a saxicolous or epiphytic species with gray-lepidote leaves, producing a red floral spike.

Endemic to Mexico. An epiphytic species with a rosette of gray-green leaves and a pink inflorescence, found in dry forests.

Historically treated as a species but often considered a synonym or variety of Tillandsia fasciculata. It shares the characteristic stiff, gray leaves and colorful spikes.

A Caribbean species found in Cuba and Jamaica. It is a small epiphyte with gray-green leaves, sometimes confused with T. berteroniana.

A relatively large species native to the Andean regions of Peru and Bolivia, found growing epiphytically or lithophytically.

An epilithic species endemic to the Atlantic Forest domain in Espirito Santo, Brazil, often found on rocky outcrops.

Tillandsia cernua is a small epiphytic bromeliad native to Mexico and Central America. It has narrow, recurved leaves covered with silver trichomes and produces a simple inflorescence with small tubular flowers. The species name 'cernua' refers to the nodding or drooping habit of the inflorescence.

Tillandsia chapalillaensis is an epiphytic bromeliad native to Mexico, described from the Chapalilla area of Nayarit state. It has narrow, trichome-covered leaves adapted to seasonally dry tropical forests.

A rare lithophytic bromeliad endemic to the southern Espinhaço Range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Forms rosettes with narrow leaves and produces compound inflorescences with orange-yellow flowers. Named after botanist Apparicio P. Duarte. Originally described as Cryptanthus duartei.

A large, variable, tank-forming species lacking discernible stems. Leaves are arranged in a rosette, leathery, grey-green with a waxy coating, 30 to 80 cm in length, forming basal cups that hold water and detritus. The inflorescence is a panicle of spikes shorter than the leaves, with bright red bracts and violet to white flowers. A highly variable species with multiple recognized varieties. In the southeastern United States (Florida), populations are threatened by the invasive Mexican bromeliad weevil (Metamasius callizona).

Known as the Twisted Air Plant, it has thick, stiff leaves that spiral around the stem. It is unique for its viviparous reproduction, producing offsets on the inflorescence.

Distinctive caulescent (stem-forming) air plant with needle-like leaves resembling small pine branches. Produces spectacular scarlet-red tubular flowers. Forms long, draping clumps over time. Named after Belgian botanist Nicolas Funck.

A caulescent lithophytic species that grows on rocks. It features a distinct star-shaped rosette with stiff, trichome-covered leaves. It often forms large mats in its native habitat.

A popular small epiphytic species that forms compact rosettes. The leaves turn vivid red during the blooming cycle, producing purple tubular flowers. It clumps readily over time.

A high-altitude caulescent species. Despite its specific name "nana" (dwarf), it can form long stems. It requires cool temperatures and high humidity but constant airflow.

A small epiphytic species from the highlands of Bolivia and Argentina. Forms compact rosettes with silvery-grey leaves covered in trichomes. Grows on perpendicular rocks and thorn shrub vegetation.

A compact bromeliad native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northern Argentina. This species grows as an epiphyte or on rocks in subtropical regions. It forms neat rosettes about 30-38cm wide with stiff, recurved leaves in glossy yellow-green. The leaf margins have small spine-like teeth. When blooming, the center turns vivid red while outer leaves become rose-colored, creating distinctive bicolor effects. The flowers feature bright orange-red bracts.

A large, impressive species forming rosettes of long, broad, attenuate leaves that are slightly recurving. The leaf surfaces are distinctive: the upper side is nerved and minutely appressed-lepidote, while the lower surface is nearly glabrous. Unlike the related T. xerographica, the leaves typically do not twist. The compound inflorescence features inflated spikes with brilliant coloration including cherry red, moss green, and buttercup yellow. The scape bracts, primary bracts, and some leaves develop a striking dark cherry color during flowering.

A saxicolous or epiphytic species endemic to Peru. It forms a rosette of grayish-green leaves covered in trichomes. The inflorescence is typically simple or digitately compound with rose-colored floral bracts.

A saxicolous species endemic to Bolivia, specifically around Samaipata. It has soft, gray-green leaves and produces a simple or few-branched inflorescence with white flowers.

A saxicolous or epiphytic species from Mexico. It forms a rosette of stiff, channeled leaves. The inflorescence usually exceeds the leaves.

A widely distributed, hardy species. It usually forms clumps of stiff, thin, gray leaves. Distinguished by its yellow flower petals and red floral bracts.

A widely distributed species in South America. The leaves are covered in trichomes and often recurve or curl. It produces fragrant blue or purple flowers.

Native to Mexico and Central America, this species features a prominent bulbous base and broad, trichome-covered leaves. The leaves curl tightly when dry, acting as a drought indicator. It is a robust grower that can reach over 30 cm in diameter.

A small, pendant species approximately 4 to 8 cm in diameter with subsucculent green leaves covered with coarse grey scales. Produces rose-colored floral bracts and pink flowers. Saxicolous, growing on steep rock walls. Known from a very restricted range in southeastern Brazil. Described by Ehlers in 1993 in the Journal of the Bromeliad Society.