A form supplied from Colombia nurseries.

Mexico (Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Nayarit, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Morelos, Mexico, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas),

Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua

450 - 1,700 m elevation

Epiphytic, Terrestrial

Tillandsia ionantha Colombia form

Tillandsia (Tillandsia) ionantha Planchon (1854)

[ Etymology ] ion + anthus in Latin (purple + flower)
[ Classification ] genus Tillandsia - subgenus Tillandsia
[ Regional variation ]
Mexico form
Guatemala form
Ecuador form
Colombia form
[ Variety ]
Tillandsia ionantha var. ionantha
Tillandsia ionantha var. maxima (Large foliage)
Tillandsia ionantha var. scaposa => Tillandsia scaposa
Tillandsia ionantha var. stricta (Narrow leaves)
Tillandsia ionantha var. vanhyningii (Long stem)
Tillandsia ionantha var. zebrina => Tillandisa ionantha 'Zebrina'
[ Form ]
Tillandsia ionantha f. fastigiata (Narrow leavs and closed foliage)
[ Cultivar ]
Tillandsia ionantha 'Albino' (White flower, leaves turn lemon yellow)
Tillandsia ionantha 'Druid' (White flower, leaves turn yellow)
Tillandsia ionantha 'Fuego' (Purple flower, leaves turn vivid red)
Tillandsia ionantha 'Hazelnut' (Tear drop shape)
Tillandsia ionantha 'Peach' (Purple flower, leaves turn peach yellow)
Tillandsia ionantha 'Rubra' (Large foliage, leaves turn pinky red)
Tillandsia ionantha 'Variegata' (Variegated)
Tillandisa ionantha 'Zebrina' (Band texture on leaves)
[ Synonyms ]
Blushing Bride
Tillandsia erubescens H. Wendland (1854)
Tillandsia quesneliana Hort ex Beer
Tillandsia rubentifolia Poisson and Menet (1908)
Tillandsia scopus Hooker f.

Photographs

[ Cultivation data ]
[ Green foliages ]
[ Roots ]

Features

[ Blooming ] ?
[ Flower ] Purple
[ Fregrance ] None
[ Blooming size ] 3 - 4 cm (W) x 3 - 6 cm (H)
This is very common species but low degree of drought tolerance.
Many variations and forms of Tillandsia ionantha are known.
The leaves around the growing point are closed comparing to T. ionantha Mexico form and T. ionantha Guatemala form.

Cultivaton tips

Informations summarized here are based on our experiences, and TrekGEO does not guarantee the results by cultivating in the same or similar conditions described here. Even a species of Tillandsia differs substantially between individuals, and is very sensitive in changes of environments. Applicatons of any idea inspired by this site should be at your own risks.

Low watering frequency cultivation

Managed to keep the foliage. Leaves at the bottom of the foliage and leaf tips tend to die. Better ventilation and higher watering frequency are necessary.

Cultivation Log

Oct. 2006 Moved to another site. Cultivation condition is almost same as the previous site.

Oct. 2005 The foliage has grown larger.

Dec. 2004 Leaf tips turned red.
Aug. 2004 The temperature rises above 30 °C for 40 days, and the highest temperature was over 39 °C.
May 2004 A root began to grow.