Tillandsia flabellata

RHS Plant Profile

fan-shaped air plant

Houseplants

A stemless, epiphytic perennial, with glossy, linear leaves forming a rosette to 30cm across. In spring it produces a branched flowerspike composed of flattened red bracts from which tiny, tubular violet flowers emerge

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

Growing Conditions

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–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: Tufted
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: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow epiphytically, or in pots of free-draining compost composed of equal parts of orchid compost, perlite and coir fibre. Position in bright, indirect light, with moderate to high humidity. From late spring to late summer water moderately and apply a balanced foliar feed monthly. Water sparingly in winter. See Air plants cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 27°C in spring, onto bundles of conifer twigs and sphagnum moss; mist daily. Detach offsets in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free