Tillandsia bergeri

RHS Plant Profile
Berger's air plant

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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

Position

Partial shade

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1C

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Bromeliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
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

May be susceptible to aphids and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free