Intermediate
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Tillandsia abdita (Air plant )
Comment on a listing
Plant supplier links
- Login to upload a photo
2 hours care
per year
per year
0.25m
Max height
Max height
0.25m
Max spread
Max spread
5-10 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Tillandsia abdita
Other names
Air plant , Tillandsia brachycaulos, misapplied
Genus
Tillandsia Tillandsia
Species
T. abdita - T. abdita is a tender, rosette-forming, epiphytic, evergreen perennial with broadly linear, pointed, soft, grey-green leaves turning red as the plant prepares to flower and spikes of tubular, violet-blue flowers with yellow stamens in spring and summer.
Tillandsia abdita is: Evergreen
Habit
Compact, Rosette
Flower
Violet, Blue in Spring; Violet, Blue in Summer
Foliage
Red in Spring; Red in Summer; Red in Autumn; Grey-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Aphids , Glasshouse red spider mite , Red spider mite (box and other) Aphids , Glasshouse red spider mite , Red spider mite (box and other)
Diseases
Generally disease free.
General care
Pruning
No pruning required.
Propagation
Detach offsets in spring and attach to bark slabs. Sow seed at 27C in spring on to bundles of conifer twigs or sphagnum moss. Mist seeds and offsets daily.
Propagation methods
Offsets, Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Tillandsia abdita (Air plant ) will reach a height of 0.25m and a spread of 0.25m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Conservatory, Containers, Low Maintenance, Sub-Tropical
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in terrestrial bromeliad compost with the leaves at or just below the surface in part shade. Suitable for growing on slabs of bark or on trees. Outdoors in open, coarse, leafy soil in partial shade.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Neutral
Light
Partial Shade
Aspect
East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Tillandsia abdita
Other names
Air plant , Tillandsia brachycaulos, misapplied
Genus
Tillandsia Tillandsia
Species
T. abdita - T. abdita is a tender, rosette-forming, epiphytic, evergreen perennial with broadly linear, pointed, soft, grey-green leaves turning red as the plant prepares to flower and spikes of tubular, violet-blue flowers with yellow stamens in spring and summer.
Native to
Garden origin
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Compact, Rosette
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Violet, Blue in Spring; Violet, Blue in Summer
Foliage
Red in Spring; Red in Summer; Red in Autumn; Grey-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Aphids , Glasshouse red spider mite , Red spider mite (box and other)
Diseases
Generally disease free.
General care
Pruning
No pruning required.
Propagation
Detach offsets in spring and attach to bark slabs. Sow seed at 27C in spring on to bundles of conifer twigs or sphagnum moss. Mist seeds and offsets daily.
Propagation methods
Offsets, Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Tillandsia abdita (Air plant ) will reach a height of 0.25m and a spread of 0.25m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Conservatory, Containers, Low Maintenance, Sub-Tropical
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in terrestrial bromeliad compost with the leaves at or just below the surface in part shade. Suitable for growing on slabs of bark or on trees. Outdoors in open, coarse, leafy soil in partial shade.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Neutral
Light
Partial Shade
Aspect
East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login