Tillandsia ionantha 'Hot Pink' (Air Plant)

Tillandsia ionantha is one of the most widely grown air plants in the world, native to Mexico and Central America, and the 'Hot Pink' selection is among its most vivid forms. Compact enough to sit in the palm of your hand, ionantha produces a tight rosette of narrow, silvery-green leaves that transforms completely at bloom time. The 'Hot Pink' form flushes a vivid, saturated pink across its inner leaves and crown before sending up violet-blue tubular flowers from the center. The color shift lasts several weeks, making the bloom season one of the longest visual events in the tillandsia world.

Because of its small size, typically 2 to 4 inches across, ionantha is versatile in display. It works in glass terrariums, glued to magnets, wired onto wreaths, or simply placed in a decorative dish. Mist or soak it two to three times a week, shake out water that collects at the base, and let it dry in a bright spot.

After flowering, the parent plant offsets freely, and a single specimen can become a clump of six or more pups over a couple of seasons.