The giant air plant is a tropical, epiphytic, evergreen herbaceous perennial in the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae). It is native to dry tropical areas of Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador and grows in the upper branches of tall trees. The reference of the epithet, meaning “dry writing or drawing” is obscure. This plant can be grown indoors or outside in mild climates. It is a tropical plant intolerant of frost. It requires bright light but not full sunlight. A south-facing window should be sufficient. Soak the plant in water for 15 minutes every 1 or 2 weeks. In the winter it can be soaked monthly. In a home, the heating and air conditioning can affect humidity, and the plant might need more watering. Just be sure to shake out the plant and let it dry upside-down soaking to prevent crown rot. You can also add liquid fertilizer (diluted to half-strength or less) to the water once or twice a month to encourage growth, pup formation and flowering. The giant air plant is one of the larger air plants commonly in cultivation. The stunning silvery gray, curling leaves are reason enough to grow this plant. If you are lucky, the plant will produce a flower stalk that can be 1 to 3 feet tall with a showy spike of green to yellow or orange-red, long-lasting bracts. The flowers are small and not showy. The plants bloom once in their lifetime and only when conditions are right. The plant can be grown outdoors in the appropriate hardiness zones, or grow it as a houseplant. Indoor plants can spend summer months outside in the shade of a tree or pergola. Be sure to bring them inside when the weather turns cool. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : This plant is not troubled by pests or diseases. More information on Tillandsia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low; Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Mounding
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The silver-flocked leaves are wider at the base and narrow at the tips and spiral around the plant in a rosette. The leaves are strongly recurved.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The spikey inflorescence is about 12 to 36 inches in height and heavily branched. The leafy bracts are rosy red and covered by scales. The floral bracts are chartreuse and 1 to 2 inches long. The petals of the tubular flowers are red to purple and last for months.