Reflexed wild-pine
Tillandsia balbisiana
Bromeliaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also accent epiphtye.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

A relatively common epiphyte in hammocks and swamps.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description:
Epiphytic herb.
Height:
About 6-12 inches in height; up to 24 inches in flower. Taller than broad.
Growth Rate:
Slow.
Range:
Monroe County Keys north to Indian River, Orange, Polk and Hillsborough counties; West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America. Rare in the Monroe County Keys and either very rare or absent in the middle Keys. Scattered north of Lake Okeechobee.
Habitats:
Moist forests and swamps.
Soils:
Epiphytic; grows on the trunks and branches of trees and shrubs.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low; it grows on nutrient poor substrate.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.
Drought Tolerance:
High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
Light shade to full sun.
Flower Color:
Purple.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy inflorescence.
Flowering Season:
Summer-fall.
Fruit:
Green to brown capsule with hairy, wind dispersed seeds.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed and division.
Comments:
It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida.


George D. Gann
in habitat, Dominican Republic, 2011
Roger L. Hammer
Wes Jurgens
Melissa E. Abdo