Tillandsia bergeri
Berger's air plant
T. bergeri is an evergreen epiphyte forming a rosette of greyish-green, narrowly triangular leaves up to 15cm long that taper to a point. Flowers spikes 7-12cm long are produced in summer; blue flowers with white centres and twisted petals emerge from pink bracts
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Colour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Grey Silver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Blue White | Green Grey Silver | ||
| Autumn | Green Grey Silver | |||
| Winter | Green Grey Silver |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H1CBotanical details
- Family
- Bromeliaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Tillandsia are evergreen perennials, often epiphytic, forming rosettes of leathery, linear or strap-shaped leaves, and tubular or funnel-shaped flowers which may be 2-ranked in spikes with conspicuous bracts, or solitary and inconspicuous
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Brazil (RioGrande do Sul) to Argentina (Buenos Aires)
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in containers of terrestrial bromeliad compost, with the base of the leaves at or just below the surface, in semi-shade. May also be grown on slabs of bark or sections of trees. Grow outdoors in coarse, open, leafy soil in partial or dappled shade in frost-free area. Use soft water and water moderately in summer and sparingly at other times. See Air plants cultivation
Propagation
Propagate from seed (see Air plants) or by separating offsets once they are at least a third the size of the parent
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Patio and container plants
- Sub-tropical
Pruning
Remove individual rosettes that have died after flowering
Pests
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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