Origin
This hybrid was a masterpiece created by Steve Correale who was widely recognized in the global bromeliad and air plant community as a pioneering Florida hybridizer and collector. Over several decades, his contributions to the genus Tillandsia earned him deep respect among commercial growers, botanical societies and hobbyists alike.
The Tillandsia King Cobra is a hybrid cross of T. chiapensis X T. botterii. It produces a large, thick leaved rosette. “The foliage is heavily scurfed with silvery trichomes that blush soft pink in strong, bright sunlight.” — Tropiflora
Peter Kouchalakas from the Tropical Fern and Exotic Plant Society introduced us to Steve Correale when he heard that we were looking for rare plants on behalf of the Singapore Gardens by the Bay. We acquired a couple of King Cobras for ourselves at this time and planted them on our rock wall. Over the years they have formed a large colony on the oolite with minimal care from us.
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Steve Correale with Kiat Tan, founding CEO of Gardens by the Bay, and King Cobra – 2013