Tillandsia ionantha

Native to Mexico and Central America, this evergreen perennial air plant in the bromeliad family grows on trees and rocks and reaches about 5 inches tall. Its narrow, arching leaves are gray-silver to green, with the inner leaves turning red during flowering. Violet-blue tubular flowers have protruding yellow stamens. It forms offsets and wind-dispersed seeds. It is cultivated as an air plant without soil. It has naturalized in Broward County, Florida. Photographed in Florida.