Tillandsia Bromeliad, Giant Air Plant, Spreading Airplant, Giant Wild-Pine

The Giant Airplant or Giant Wildpine (Tillandsia utriculata) is native to the cypress swamps, hammocks, pinelands, tree islands, sloughs,...Read More scrub, mangrove swamps, and many other similar natural habitats, both wet and dry, throughout central and southern Florida and the Keys (zones 9a through 11), from north-central Florida southward throughout the central and southern counties. It is one of the largest species of bromeliads in Florida and can get quite large in the wild as a mature specimen, sometimes reaching as wide as 2 or 3 feet. Usually it is less than 1 foot wide or 1 to 2 feet wide. The green flower spike is tall and large, but may seem inconspicuous against a natural background in the wild where this plant is found growing, such as one the trunks and branches of trees. Because of this, the mature flowering spike is often overlooked by naturalists. The small yellow flowers, which are found on several greenish, thin spikes branching out from the main spike when the mature plant is flowering, are small and inconspicuous. This species grows on tree trunks, branches, large twigs that can support the plant's weight (this airplant can often grow even on rather small sticks and twigs because the plant is really not as heavy as it seems, although if compared with the other bromeliads of Florida and due to it's size, the plant is still the heaviest), and on stumps in the wild. This species is found in many varied natural habitats in Florida, both wet and dry, from wet swamps, sloughs and cypress forests to pine flatwoods, pinelands, upland sandhills and scrubs and oak hammocks and hammocks (both moist and drier hammocks). However, sadly, this impressive species is being threatened by habitat destruction, overcollecting, and in southern Florida, by the Mexican Bromeliad Weevil Attack. Although it is still widespread and common in many areas, it is rapidly declining as a result of habitat destruction due to development in central and southern Florida's natural habitats. Also, overcollecting is still a major threat. And, of course, there is the Mexican Bromeliad Weevil, which is sadly destroying many native species of bromeliads in central and southern Florida. The Giant Airplant, due to those threats, like many species of native bromeliads in Florida, is listed as endangered by the state of Florida. Property owners and all other people should not remove this plant from it's natural habitat in central and southern Florida if they see it. It, along with the habitats it is found in, should be protected.

MORE FACTS - A good place to see this species is the Big Cypress/Fakahatchee Swamp Region in the western Florida Everglades in southwest Florida. This species grows well in zones 9a through 11 and is found throughout the central and southern counties of Florida, including the Keys.

Endangered as a result of the Mexican bromeliad weevil attack. These Tillandsias were common before the attack.