Our Air Plant Picks

Choose the right air plant for you.

- Tinus Oberholzer

Last month we discussed the Tillandsia genus – what it consists of, where the plants are from and how they grow, dispelling a few misconceptions in the process. In this article we get more specific, introducing particular species and hybrids that are brilliant for the home gardener.

The well-known Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), often called old man’s beard, is probably the species of air plant most gardeners are familiar with, and the one most often seen. It is a fast grower, eventually forming long strings or bunches that are a collection of hundreds or even thousands of little plants. The tiny flowers are not easy to see and are often overlooked, but if you look closely you may sometimes be able to see the green flowers between the grey plants. There are different forms of this species, from those with really fine leaves to a much coarser form with slightly larger plants.

Most air plants tend to flower on a regular basis, with the exception of Tillandsia latifolia and Tillandsia purpurea. These species grow prolifically but very seldom flower outside their natural habitat, which is the Peruvian desert where they get almost no rain. The only moisture available for them to survive on comes from the condensation of mist on the plants, and they need conditions similar to these in order to flower.

Some of the species commonly available to the South African gardener, and which are all worth growing, include the following:

Tillandsia ionantha is a small plant that grows in clumps. The leaves turn pink when the tubular purple flowers are about to emerge.