Tillandsia
- Phonetic Spelling
- til-LAND-see-uh
- Description
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Tillandsia is a genus of over 600 species of evergreen perennial plants in the bromeliad family that are air plants or epiphytes. Some have gray scales on stems and leaves as a means of obtaining moisture and nutrition giving them a silvery look. Most plants have no roots or only roots that are used to anchor themselves to objects. They are native to the SW USA, Mexico and South America and can be found in forests, deserts and mountains. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes with different needs depending on the species. Many reproduce by making "pups" which can be used for propagating new plants. Starting by seed is possible but a very slow process.
These plants can be used in (on) pots, on interior trees or attached to structures.
Quick ID
- Epiphytic plant with no roots or few, wiry roots
- Leaves are straplike, succulent, covered with gray scales
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tillandsia
- Family:
- Bromeliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical & Subtropical America
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Epiphyte
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Description:
- Inflorescence is usually a spike, terminal, with colorful bracts. Flowers are green, white, violet, red, blue, pink, cream, yellow, corolla cylindrical or lobes spreading; bracts red, yellow, pink, blue, green; stamens exserted.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are simple, bundled, in a rosette or in 2 rows, entire, covered with absorbent gray scales. Various shapes and sizes depending on the species
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stem is short, simple; few roots, wiry.
