Tillandsia harrisii on white background.

Bromeliaceae

Tillandsia harrisii

Air Plant

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Tillandsia harrisii has a dense rosette of broad silver-grey leaves coated in fine silvery scales. Flowering plants carry red to orange bracts with violet flowers.

Read full guide to Tillandsia harrisii

€10,75

VAT included · plus

Plant size: approx. 5 cm tall

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Care at a glance

Tillandsia harrisii

Light

Very bright / some direct • approx. 20,000–40,000 lux

Watering

Water when ~100% dry

Substrate

Unpotted • No substrate • Good airflow • Dries fully after watering

Temperature

Ideal: 15–30 °C • Avoid below: 12 °C

Humidity

Elevated 50–60%

Growth habit

Rosette-forming epiphytic bromeliad.

Support

not needed

Growth speed

Slow

Cultivated size guide

Height: 20 cm • Spread: 20 cm

Toxicity & safety

Non-toxic

Origin & habitat

Native to Guatemala

Outdoor growing

Outside from 15 °C · specialist outdoor setup

How to read these values

These care values give practical guidance for growing the plant. Adjust care for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.

For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.

Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.

Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
Growth speed: expected pace under suitable growing conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.

Cultivated size guide: approximate dimensions for an established plant in the stated growing context. Height is measured upwards from the growing surface; foliage height excludes flower stems. Trailing length follows a stem, while foliage drop is the vertical distance from the crown to the lowest leaf tips. Spread is the width of the leafy plant or crown, not an individual leaf. Flowering height includes the flower stems. A container guide applies to pot-grown plants; an in-ground guide applies to plants rooted in the ground. Size also depends on age, conditions, pot space and training.

These figures do not describe the size supplied and are not fixed upper limits.

Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.

Tillandsia harrisii

This species forms a broad rosette of closely overlapping leaves. A dense coating of pale scales gives the firm foliage a soft-looking surface and silver-grey colour.

Violet flowers emerge among red to orange modified leaves called bracts, and pups can appear afterwards. They can stay attached to build a larger group.

Main characteristics of Tillandsia harrisii

Foliage: Thick, tapering leaves overlap closely around the centre.
Texture: The scales give the leaves a soft, almost velvety silver look while the leaves themselves remain firm.
Form: Plants develop a broad, dense central rosette.
Flowering: Mature plants can produce colourful red to orange bracts with violet flowers.
Offsets: New rosettes arise after maturity and can remain attached to produce a fuller plant.

Origin & background

Natural range and habitat of Tillandsia harrisii

Tillandsia harrisii is found naturally only in Guatemala, where it grows in exposed rocky cliff habitats.

Rocky cliff sites give the plant strong light and steady air movement, so the rosette dries quickly after rain or dew.

Plant care

Keeping Tillandsia harrisii healthy indoors

Light: Give very bright light and introduce direct sun gradually.
Temperature: Tillandsia harrisii grows steadily at about 15–30 °C. Move it away from cold spots before sustained temperatures fall below 12 °C.
Humidity: Moderate humidity is suitable when paired with good airflow after every watering.
Airflow: Keep it in a spot with good airflow so moisture clears from between the overlapping leaves.
Water: Thoroughly soak or rinse the whole rosette, then wait until it has dried before watering again.
Drying: After watering, shake out excess water and turn the rosette sideways or upside down until trapped water has drained from between the overlapping leaves.
Display: Rest or mount it on a dry, open support with air moving around the base.
Feeding: Use a very dilute bromeliad or orchid fertiliser occasionally during active growth.
After flowering: A rosette flowers once, then slowly dies back while the offsets keep growing. Remove the old rosette once it is fully dry.
Offsets: Allow pups to remain with the mother for a fuller plant. For separate plants, wait until the offsets are well developed before detaching them.

Issues & solutions

Common problems with Tillandsia harrisii and how to solve them

The centre or lower leaves turn dark brown or black and become soft: The rosette has stayed wet for too long. Improve ventilation, let it dry fully and remove only loose rotten tissue with a disinfected tool; discard the removed material.
Leaf tips become dry and sharply brittle: The plant is drying out too quickly. Water more thoroughly or check more often, and raise humidity if the room is very dry.
One side develops pale, papery patches: The plant has likely been scorched by sudden direct sun or hot glass. Move it back to bright indirect light and increase direct sun gradually.
Cottony clumps or small hard bumps appear between the leaves: Check for mealybugs or scale. Isolate the plant, remove small colonies carefully and, if treatment is needed, use a product labelled for the identified pest and ornamental houseplants; follow the label exactly, including its repeat interval.

Safety

Tillandsia harrisii is generally regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs

Some leaf tips are firm or pointed and can scratch the mouth or eyes if a pet chews or paws at the plant. Keep it out of reach of curious pets.
Chewing a large amount can still cause an upset stomach.
If a large amount is eaten and symptoms continue, contact a veterinarian or medical professional.

Names & etymology

What does the name Tillandsia harrisii mean?

Tillandsia honours the Finnish physician and botanist Elias Tillandz. The epithet harrisii honours American Tillandsia collector and exporter Bill Harris.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Tillandsia in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 286.

Renate Ehlers first described Tillandsia harrisii in 1987 in Bromelie, volume 1987, page 34.

Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.