About
An evergreen epiphyte forming a rosette of greyish-green, narrowly triangular leaves up to 15cm long that taper to a point. Flowers spikes 7-12cm long are produced in summer; blue flowers with white centres and twisted petals emerge from pink bracts.
About the genus
Tillandsia are evergreen perennials, often epiphytic, forming rosettes of leathery, linear or strap-shaped leaves, and tubular or funnel-shaped flowers which may be 2-ranked in spikes with conspicuous bracts, or solitary and inconspicuous
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
AspectWest-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1C
Plant details
Plant typeHouseplants, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitClump forming
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants, Sub-tropical
Native toBrazil (RioGrande do Sul) to Argentina (Buenos Aires)
Care notes
CultivationGrow in containers of terrestrial bromeliad compost, with the base of the leaves at or just below the surface, in semi-shade. May also be grown on slabs of bark or sections of trees. Grow outdoors in coarse, open, leafy soil in partial or dappled shade in frost-free area. Use soft water and water moderately in summer and sparingly at other times. See Air plants cultivation
PruningRemove individual rosettes that have died after flowering
PropagationPropagate from seed (see Air plants) or by separating offsets once they are at least a third the size of the parent
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids and mealybugs
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free