Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
HouseplantsConservatory Greenhouse

Tillandsia bergeri

Berger's air plant

An evergreen epiphyte forming a rosette of greyish-green, narrowly triangular leaves up to 15cm long that taper to a point. Flowers spikes 7-12cm long are produced in summer; blue flowers with white centres and twisted petals emerge from pink bracts

Join the RHS

Become an RHS Member today and save 25% on your first year

Join now
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green Grey Silver
Summer Blue White Green Grey Silver
Autumn Green Grey Silver
Winter Green Grey Silver
Position
  • Partial shade
Aspect

West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H1C
Botanical details
Family
Bromeliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
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
Brazil (RioGrande do Sul) to Argentina (Buenos Aires)

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in containers of terrestrial bromeliad compost, with the base of the leaves at or just below the surface, in semi-shade. May also be grown on slabs of bark or sections of trees. Grow outdoors in coarse, open, leafy soil in partial or dappled shade in frost-free area. Use soft water and water moderately in summer and sparingly at other times. See Air plants cultivation

Propagation

Propagate from seed (see Air plants) or by separating offsets once they are at least a third the size of the parent

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
Pruning

Remove individual rosettes that have died after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.