Description
Tillandsia capillaris Type 9 is one of several named growth ranges we carry within this highly variable species. It is distinguished from our other capillaris Types by its own particular leaf form and habit, not by being a separate cultivar. Buyers who want to build a comparison collection of capillaris forms will find Type 9 a worthwhile addition alongside our other numbered ranges.
About Tillandsia Capillaris Type 9
Tillandsia capillaris is native to a wide stretch of South America. Its range runs from southeastern Ecuador through the Andes of Peru and Bolivia, down into isolated populations in northern and central Argentina, including Córdoba Province. Botanists describe the species as extremely variable in both size and form. It grows to about 16 cm long when in flower, with many thin stems massed densely from a single point.
Leaves can range from slender and thread-like to short and stout, depending on the population they come from. The plant grows both on rocks and as an epiphyte on trees, across a huge elevation range from near sea level to over 4,000 meters, in dry to semi-arid habitats. Flowering is typically a single small bloom per stem, with narrow petals in white, yellow, or brown tones that are easy to overlook against the fine gray-scaled foliage. This variability is exactly why we track and sell it by numbered “Type,” since plants collected from different populations can look meaningfully different from one another despite sharing the same species name.
Growing Tillandsia Capillaris: Care Guide
Give it bright light and excellent airflow to match the exposed, rocky habitats it comes from in the wild, and let it dry thoroughly between waterings. Feed sparingly with diluted TillyBoost Fertilizer, since this fine-leaved species needs less fertilizer than larger, broader-leaved Tillandsias. It mounts well on small pieces of cork or driftwood from our Air Plant Accessories category. See our Air Plant Care page for general watering and light guidance. Learn more about the species at Tillandsia capillaris on Wikipedia.
