This epiphytic perennial forms a tufted habit with drooping foliage. It has dark green long linear leaves and the small violet tube-shaped flowers appear in a upright flattened spike that has red-pink bracts and appears from spring or autumn.

Hardiness zones 9 to 11

Tillandsia cyanea is naturally found in South America growing in Brazil in the rainforest understorey. It prefers a well drained organic rich moist soil in a protected shade to semi-shade position and is drought and frost tender.


The Pink Quill is a colourful epiphytic plant that is grown in small gardens along front borders or in rockeries and is used for a tropical effect. It is also grown in trees in a rainforests setting and in cool climates it is used as an indoor or glasshouse specimen. It has a moderate growth rate and establishes in 3 to 5 years from offsets. ID 971

Tillandsia (ti-LĂNDz-ee-a) cyanea(see-ĂN-ee-a)

Bromeliaceae(bro-mee-lee-AY-see-ee)