We spent the night with friends in Kaaawa after a pleasant dinner and a few glasses of wine.
This morning they pointed out a little plant, sheltered under a chair on their deck to limit its exposure to direct sun.
It looks a lot like a creature that should be living on a coral reef.
I went to my iPhone, fired up the PlantSnap app, and took this picture.
The app returned it’s best guess: Sky Plant (Tillandsia ionantha)
Anyone out there familiar with this plant?
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I have several of this plant (actually that is a bunch of plants.) I’ve tucked some into the crotches of my puakenikeni bush. This is a lovely example! Popularly, these and similar tillandsias are called “air plants.” Google that to see images. Very nice photograph.
Ian,
Yes – tillandsia. Epiphytic little gems from south america. These grow great tied to the branches of small trees like plumeria. They will continue to sprout ‘pups’ and will slowly spread. Your photo has about a dozen pups.
These plants grow without soil attached to tree branches, trunks etc. They require almost zero care … just lots of dappled sunlight and a peiodic splash of water.
Jim
Thanks, Jim! Your expertise here is really helpful and appreciated.
A good succulent variety! The red & purple royal color’s are attractive for floral Haku Lei, holiday wreaths and crafts, instead of the endangered Lehua flower.
It does not hold water like bigger cup succulent variety’s, no propagation of mosquito’s.
Unusual plant. Glad you had a good time with friends. Show photos of the food next time. And the table setting.
Tilladsias are a family of the genus Bromeliaceae, natives of Mexixo and central and part so S. Ameica. Bout 60 different species.
That should have been 600 different species.
We have some of these in our yard growing on the trunks of tree ferns. They get quite a bit of sun and are thriving. We know them as tillandsia. Actually, tillandsia is a genus in the bromeliad family which has many different species. They are epiphytes.