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Tillandsia × floridana

Florida airplant

Bromeliaceae Florida, southeastern United States

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Hummingbirds Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunPart Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Tillandsia × floridana is a natural hybrid between T. bartramii and T. fasciculata, growing as an epiphyte on tree bark and branches. Plants form a rosette of stiff, narrow, channeled leaves 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) long, grey-green and coated in silvery trichomes that absorb water and nutrients from the air. The rosette spans 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) across. In spring a branched flower spike rises 8-16 inches (20-40 cm) tall, carrying flattened red to rose-pink bracts and tubular violet flowers about 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) long. After flowering the parent rosette produces 2-4 offsets at its base and slowly dies over 1-2 years. The roots serve mainly for anchorage rather than water uptake. Growth is slow, and rosettes take 2-3 years to reach flowering size. Plants withstand brief dry spells but decline in sustained low humidity, and foliage is damaged below 30°F (-1°C).

Native Range

Occurs naturally in central and southern Florida, United States, where the ranges of its parent species overlap. Grows as an epiphyte in hammocks, swamps, and open woodland, attached to the bark of oaks, cypress, and other trees at low elevations.

Suggested Uses

Grown mounted on bark or wood, in glass globes, or in open terrariums without soil. Used on frost-free patios and in bright indoor positions, and outdoors year-round in zones 9-11 attached to trees or fences. Clusters of offsets build into groupings 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) wide over several years.

How to Identify

Identified by a rosette of stiff grey-green leaves 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) long with broad clasping bases tapering to slender points, the surface coated in silvery scales. The branched inflorescence carries flattened two-ranked spikes with red to rose-pink bracts, separating it from the simpler spike of T. bartramii and the denser, more robust form of T. fasciculata. Tubular violet flowers extend 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) beyond the bracts.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 1'4"

Width/Spread4" - 8"

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring

Flowers chiefly in spring, from March to May, with occasional bloom into early summer. Each inflorescence stays colorful for 4-8 weeks as the bracts hold their red tone longer than the short-lived individual flowers. Bloom timing shifts earlier in warm years and in consistently bright positions.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Mount on bark, cork, or driftwood, or rest the plant in an open holder without soil. Water by misting 2-4 times per week or soaking for 20-30 minutes weekly, then shaking out trapped water to limit crown rot. Bright, filtered light suits growth, while direct midday sun through glass scorches the leaves. Daytime temperatures of 65-85°F (18-29°C) support active growth, and exposure below 30°F (-1°C) causes tissue damage. Offsets can be left attached to form a clump or separated once they reach one-third the size of the parent. Spider mites and scale occur in dry indoor air.

Pruning

Remove spent flower spikes at the base once the bracts fade and dry. Trim dead outer leaves as they brown at the rosette margin. No other cutting is needed, since the parent rosette declines naturally after flowering and is replaced by offsets.

Pruning Schedule

late spring