General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Plant Height: 3 to 4 inches
Plant Spread: 3 to 4 inches
Leaves: Evergreen
Other: Leaves are typically gray, gray-green, or white
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Blue
Purple
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Suitable Locations: Terrariums
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Offsets
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Epiphytic

Image
Common names
  • Air Plant
  • Sky Plant
  • Bromeliad
  • Blushing Bride

Photo Gallery

First bloom
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2021-04-05
A clump of ionantha Mexican

Date: 2020-12-13
Location: Botanical Garden Berlin
Date: 2017-02-06
Location: Botanical Garden Meise (Belgium)
Date: 2017-02-06
Location: Arenas Valley, New Mexico my greenhouse
Date: 2016-01-28
Location: Summerville, SC
Date: 01/05/13
Bloom on day 3
Location: Cisco, Tx (between Dallas and Abilene)
Date: 2015-01-04
Location: Opp, AL  Z8b
Date: 2023-08-20
Celebrating the 10th year for this plant.
Location: Botanical Garden Utrecht (Netherlands)
Date: 2017-02-06
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-08-24
In the trunk of a dragon tree (Dracaena marginata.)
Photo by elgecko
Location: Opp, AL  Z8b
Date: 2021-09-26
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Date: 2020-10-19
Air Plants (Tillandsia ionantha) & Skulls, Day of the Dead pots
Photo by hlutzow
Photo by beckygardener
Location: Canoga Park, California
Date: 2007-02-14
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2014-12-22
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2017-10-13
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2017-10-13
Photo by ketsui73
Photo by hlutzow
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2016-11-06
Photo by hlutzow
Location: bullhead city
Date: 2018-01-16
My new little "tilly" can't wait for it to get bigger! Been exper
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2017-10-13
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-07-19
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2016-12-15
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-06-03
Photo by Hamwild
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Date: 2017-04-03
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2014-12-12
Location: Youngsville, LA
Date: 2017-07-06
By tabbycat
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2012-03-22
Location: Tampa, FL
Date: 2016-01-26
At USF Botanical Gardens
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-06-25
2 new pups/rosettes are forming between the leaves of a mama rose
Location: Lincoln NE zone 5
Date: 2015-11-06
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Date: 2017-04-03
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Date: 2017-04-03
Location: Youngsville, LA
Date: 2017-07-06
By tabbycat
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2012-03-22
Location: Opp, AL  Z8b
Date: 2022-02-21
Roots attached to tree trunk, 2 on the left, 1 on the right.
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2016-08-11

Photo Courtesy of Mountain Crest Gardens. Used with permission.
  • Uploaded by Joy
This plant is tagged in:
Image

Comments:
  • Posted by mw236 (Summerville, South Carolina - Zone 8a) on Jan 5, 2013 12:13 PM concerning plant:
    My first tillandsia to bloom! :D
  • Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Dec 13, 2013 6:00 AM concerning plant:
    The silver-colored base of this small Tillandsia is very attractive. It has intense violet flowers and when in bloom, the plant turns red.
Plant Events from our members
srinehart On February 8, 2019 Obtained plant
Purchased from Logee's
hlutzow On August 20, 2019 Obtained plant
dnrevel On January 3, 2023 Obtained plant
Bought three Air Plants, Tillandsias, of different types at a shop in SoCal in early 2023. I plan to keep them in the bath and mist them regularly. Lovely plants, sharing photos.
dnrevel On October 18, 2018 Obtained plant
Obtained at Trader Joe's during the Halloween season. Is the most carefree plant I've had. Does well in spite of occasional neglect, as long as it has a location with some light and some humidity.
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Beautiful color! by dave Jan 27, 2016 3:40 PM 3
Tillandsia ionantha by plantmanager Mar 11, 2016 3:42 PM 4

« Add a new plant to the database

» Search the Air Plants Database: by characteristics or by cultivar name

« See the general plant entry for Air Plants (Tillandsia)

« The Air Plants Database Front Page

« The Plants Database Front Page

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Snow White, Deep Green"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.