Above illustration,
"Tillandsia stricta,"
by Margaret Mee,
© Smithsonian Institution,
used with permission.
Distribution of bromeliads in Florida is determined largely by the frost tolerance of each species. Tillandsia usneoides has the greatest cold tolerance, ranging up the Atlantic coast to Virginia. Tillandsia setacea and Tillandsia bartramii occur in Georgia, and Tillandsia recurvata can be found in Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Florida represents the northern range for all other species of bromeliads occurring in the state, most of which are restricted to southern Florida.
Guzmania monostachia, Catopsis nutans, Catopsis floribunda and Catopsis berteroniana are the least tolerant to cold, being restricted to the most southern portion of the state. Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia pruinosa, Tillandsia variabilis and Tillandsia paucifolia range only slightly farther to the north. Tillandsia bartramii and Tillandsia utriculata occur up to the northern part of central Florida.
Distribution of Florida Native Bromeliads by SpeciesDistribution of Florida Native Bromeliads by County
The county distributions for each bromeliad species are taken from: Wunderlin, Richard P. and Bruce F. Hansen. 2000. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants. Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa. http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu
| Bromeliad Species | Counties |
|---|---|
| Catopsis berteroniana | Collier, Miami-Dade, mainland Monroe |
| Catopsis floribunda | Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade, mainland Monroe |
| Catopsis nutans | Collier |
| Guzmania monostachia | Collier, Miami-Dade, mainland Monroe |
| Tillandsia balbisiana | Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Sarasota, St. Lucie |
| Tillandsia bartramii | Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Volusia, Wakulla |
| Tillandsia fasciculata var. clavispica | Brevard, Miami-Dade, Monroe keys |
| Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica | Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, Volusia |
| Tillandsia flexuosa | Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach |
| Tillandsia paucifolia | Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe keys, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach |
| Tillandsia pruinosa | Collier |
| Tillandsia recurvata | Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardy, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie, Sumter, Volusia |
| Tillandsia setacea | Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie, Sumter, Volusia |
| Tillandsia simulata | Citrus, DeSoto, Flagler, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Levy, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter, Volusia |
| Tillandsia usneoides | all counties in Florida |
| Tillandsia utriculata | Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie, Sumter, Volusia |
| Tillandsia variabilis | Broward, Collier, Hendry, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee |
| Tillandsia x floridana | Broward, Citrus, DeSoto, Flagler, Hernando, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Volusia |
| Tillandsia x smalliana | Collier, Hendry, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe (mainland), Palm Beach |
| County | Bromeliad Species |
|---|---|
| Alachua | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Baker | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Bay | Tillandsia usneoides |
| Bradford | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Brevard | Tillandsia fasciculata var. clavispica, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata |
| Broward | Catopsis floribunda, Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia variabilis, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Calhoun | Tillandsia usneoides |
| Charlotte | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata |
| Citrus | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Clay | Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Collier | Catopsis berteroniana, Catopsis floribunda, Catopsis nutans, Guzmania monostachia, Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia pruinosa, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia variabilis, Tillandsia x smalliana |
| Columbia | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia usneoides |
| DeSoto | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Dixie | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Duval | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Escambia | Tillandsia usneoides |
| Flagler | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Franklin | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Gadsden | Tillandsia usneoides |
| Gilchrist | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Glades | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata |
| Gulf | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Hamilton | Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Hardee | Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata |
| Hendry | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia variabilis, Tillandsia x smalliana |
| Hernando | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Highlands | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata |
| Hillsborough | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Holmes | Tillandsia usneoides |
| Indian River | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana, Tillandsia x smalliana |
| Jackson | Tillandsia usneoides |
| Jefferson | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Lafayette | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Lake | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata |
| Lee | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Leon | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Levy | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, |
| Liberty | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Madison | Tillandsia usneoides |
| Manatee | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Marion | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Martin | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia variabilis, Tillandsia x smalliana |
| Miami-Dade | Catopsis berteroniana, Catopsis floribunda, Guzmania monostachia, Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. clavispica, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia variabilis, Tillandsia x floridana, Tillandsia x smalliana |
| Monroe (keys) | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. clavispica, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia variabilis |
| Monroe (mainland) | Catopsis berteroniana, Catopsis floribunda, Guzmania monostachia, Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia variabilis, Tillandsia x smalliana |
| Nassau | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Okaloosa | Tillandsia usneoides |
| Okeechobee | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia variabilis, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Orange | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Osceola | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Palm Beach | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana, Tillandsia x smalliana |
| Pasco | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Pinellas | Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Polk | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Putnam | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata |
| Santa Rosa | Tillandsia usneoides |
| Sarasota | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata |
| Seminole | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata |
| St. Johns | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| St. Lucie | Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata |
| Sumter | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata |
| Suwannee | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Taylor | Tillandsia usneoides |
| Union | Tillandsia usneoides |
| Volusia | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica, Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia setacea, Tillandsia simulata, Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia x floridana |
| Wakulla | Tillandsia bartramii, Tillandsia usneoides |
| Walton | Tillandsia usneoides |
| Washington | Tillandsia usneoides |