General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Plant Height: 6 to 8 inches
Plant Spread: 8 to 10 inches
Leaves: Evergreen
Other: Leaves are typically gray, gray-green, or white
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Purple
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Suitable Locations: Houseplant
Terrariums
Uses: Will Naturalize
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Offsets
Other: Separate when offsets are 2/3 the size of mother plant
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Epiphytic

Image
Common names
  • Medusa's Head
  • Air Plant
  • Octopus Plant
  • Bromeliad
Also sold as:
  • Tillandsia Butzii

Photo Gallery
Location: my Greenhouse, Arenas valley, NM
Date: 2017-05-28
Photo by nap
  • Uploaded by nap
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2023-05-24
second offset blooming now
Location: my Greenhouse, Arenas valley, NM
Date: 2017-05-28
Location: Columbus, Ohio USA, Zone 6b
Date: 2023-09-17

Date: 2021-09-09
Before soaking in water
Photo by drdawg
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2020-06-30
Location: Cisco, Tx (between Dallas and Abilene)
Date: 2019-01-26

Date: 2021-09-23
After soaking in water
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-11-21
Young plant

Date: 2022-06-26
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2020-06-30
Close up of flower bracts and flowers
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: May 2013
Location: Botanical Gardens Buffalo New York
Date: Dec 2, 2009 10:59 PM
  • Uploaded by nap
Photo by Hamwild

Date: 2019-09-08
Location: Summeville, SC
About to bloom!
Photo by hlutzow
Location: Coastal San Diego County 
Date: 2019-06-21
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Date: 2017-04-03
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Date: 2017-04-03
Photo by Hamwild

Date: November 4, 2020
Location: Washington
Date: 2015-12-16
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: May 2013

photo credit: James Steakley
Photo by Hamwild
Location: Coastal San Diego County 
Date: 2019-06-28
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Date: 2017-04-03
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Date: 2017-04-03
Photo by Hamwild

Date: November 4, 2020
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2016-12-15
Location: Austria / Wiener Neustadt
Date: 2015-09-29
Location: Central Texas
Date: 2016-02-09

Photo Courtesy of Mountain Crest Gardens. Used with permission.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Plant Events from our members
hlutzow On October 11, 2019 Obtained plant
MotherMycelium On February 17, 2021 Plant Ended (Removed, Died, Discarded, etc)
MySecretIslandGarden On March 17, 2023 Obtained plant
ASC adding a new one
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Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Nice! by Chillybean Dec 6, 2015 6:52 PM 5
id by Hamwild Jun 27, 2019 8:04 AM 2

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