Spotlight on Tillandsia tricolor

The remarkable Tillandsia tricolor is an epiphytic bromeliad that forms a rosette of arched, linear, very leathery leaves. It is found in the forests of Central America, from southern Mexico to Costa Rica, often at altitudes of over 1,000 metres. The purple, tubular flowers are borne on striking red spikes. The foliage, too, turns almost entirely red shortly before flowering, as is typical of bromeliads.

It’s the best way to stand out, as this photo shows!

The Latin name tricolor is not the hardest to decipher: it means ‘having three colours’. The first is the generally dark green of the foliage. The second is the bright red that the foliage periodically turns before the inflorescence appears. The last, less obvious, is the colour of the sheaths (the base of the leaves), which are a dark brown, almost black in the melanocrater variety, which we stock in our shop.

This term, less obvious than ‘tricolour’, means ‘black vase’, referring precisely to the darkness of the base of the foliage! This variety is also distinguished by its ‘lowland’ nature: it is found almost at sea level, whilst the typical species is found only in the mountains…

To our great delight, it is easy to grow. Moderate humidity, a bright spot and daily watering are all it needs to thrive.