Known commonly as the air plant, Tillandsia ionantha is native to Central America and Mexico, with a remarkable presence in the wild. This species thrives as an epiphyte, favoring the company of other trees and structures to support its growth without drawing nutrients from them. Notably, it has adapted well to areas beyond its native range, such as Broward County, Florida, where it has naturalized. The plant showcases a compact inflorescence, characterized by a small cluster of flowers, with each spike typically reduced to a single bloom. These purple flowers are enveloped by bracts that are longer than the sepals, which conceal them during blooming. Photographed in Florida.