What are the common varieties of air plants? A complete guide

Today let's take a look at what common air plant varieties there are. Friends who are not familiar with them may think of fruit when they see the word "pineapple," but air plants are actually ornamental flowers. Because they do not need soil to grow, are easy to care for, clean and attractive, save space and have an air-purifying effect, they are especially in line with the modern home living concept and are loved by people. They are also known by other names such as air grass and air flower.

(1) Bulbous Tillandsia (Tillandsia bulbosa)

In its place of origin it usually grows in clusters attached to trees. Plant height varies greatly, from 7 to 30 cm. The leaves are green, covered with gray scales. The number of leaves is small, and the edges curl inward into a small rod shape, slightly twisted. The leaf bases swell and overlap each other, forming a hollow false bulb, which in its place of origin ants also use as a place to live. The flower stem is upright and short, bearing a terminal spike or compound spike inflorescence. The floral bracts are ovate, overlapping, red or green, densely covered with scales. The florets are tubular, with purple petals.

(2) Hooked Bract Tillandsia (Tillandsia andreana)

Also called Argentine Tillandsia, in its place of origin it grows attached to rocks. The plant is about 20 cm tall. It is densely covered with many upward-curving linear leaves, about 5 cm long, with tapering tips, and the leaves are covered with silvery white scales. A single flower, about 3 cm long, is borne at the top of the stem. The floral bracts are bright red, with the upper part curving downward into a hook. The florets are white.

(3) Berger's Tillandsia (Tillandsia bergeri)

The plant is 10 to 20 cm tall. The leaves are thick, needle-shaped, with both sides rolled up, concave in the middle, and pointed tips. The leaves are covered with silvery gray scales.

Short raceme inflorescence. The flower stem is thick, with several floral bracts, and the florets are pale blue-purple.

(4) Red Bract Tillandsia (Tillandsia tricolor)

Also known as hard-leaved pink-bracted Tillandsia and hard-leaved Tillandsia, in its place of origin it usually grows in clusters attached to trees. The plant height does not exceed 20 cm. The leaves are numerous, rather hard in texture, green, and covered with silvery gray scales. The flower stem is soft and generally slightly drooping, and the floral bracts tightly wrap the flower stem, longer than the internodes, green, and densely covered with gray scales. The loose spike inflorescence droops. The floral bracts are bright red, and the florets are blue and tubular.

(5) Ionantha Tillandsia (Tillandsia ionantha)

Also called purple torch Tillandsia, sky Tillandsia, blue-purple Tillandsia, and air pineapple, it is one of the most common and representative air plants. The plant is short, usually growing in clusters. The plant is 8 to 12 cm tall, with numerous leaves forming a compact spherical rosette. The leaves are fleshy and lanceolate, with white powdery material on the underside, and when blooming the upper part of the middle leaves turns pink. The inflorescence is a spike, and the floral bracts are long ovate. The florets are tubular, white at the base and purple at the upper part, blooming among the leaves and below the leaf surface. Blue-purple Tillandsia also has many varieties and cultivars, each with different colored flowers and leaves.

(6) Christmas Tillandsia (Tillandsia imperialis)

Also known as Jenny Tillandsia. The leaves are green, sword-like, curved outward, with both sides rolled inward. The panicle inflorescence is upright, club-shaped, bright red, with floral bracts spirally pressed close, and the florets are purple. The flowering period is long, from summer to winter. Mexicans often use them for decoration during Christmas.

(7) Tricolor Tillandsia (Tillandsia tricolor)

Also called tricolor small pineapple, in its place of origin it grows attached to trees. The plant, including the inflorescence, is 30 to 40 cm tall. The leaves are numerous, forming a compact rosette. The leaves are green, covered with rather inconspicuous scales, and under strong light the leaves change from green to red. The leaves are linear, 30 to 35 cm long, and the outer leaves curve outward. The flower stem is soft, slightly longer than the leaves, and the stem bracts are red. The inflorescence is a spike or compound spike. The floral bracts are ovate, overlapping, bright red at the lower part and yellow and green at the middle and upper parts under strong light, hence the name tricolor Tillandsia. The florets are tubular, with blue-purple petals.

Among these rather common air plants, are there any that flower growers are more familiar with? If you are considering a potted plant growing prospect project, air plants are actually quite good.

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