25 Air Plant Types To Grow Indoors

Although once rare in commercial use, air plants are now quite trendy and used in a variety of hanging garden applications. While a few species can be grown in pots, most are mounted on pieces of bark or driftwood and suspended in air. A hanging grid is also a popular display for air plants because it groups together a collection and provides good air circulation. Air plants are now widely available at garden centers. Some are quite diminutive and need to be seen up close to be fully appreciated. Although there are many species of Tillandsia, many don’t have common names. Instead, they’re simply lumped together as “air plants” or “sky plants.” Or they may be sold simply by species name. Regardless of what you call them, here are 25 air plant types to consider for indoor growing. 

Native Area: Mexico, Central America, South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 6–12 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Mexico, Central America, South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 2–4 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Mexico, Central America, South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 5–6 inchesSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade; does well under fluorescent light

Native Area: Mexico, Central America, South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 1/2–3 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: EcuadorUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 8–12 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 6–10 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light; does well under fluorescent light

Native Area: GuatemalaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 2–5 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Mexico, Central America, VenezuelaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 2–8 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Southern Mexico, Central America, South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 4–7 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light or partial shade

Native Area: PeruUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 3–9 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Mexico, Honduras, Cuba, Dominican RepublicUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 2–8 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light; will tolerate full sun

Native Area: Mexico, Costa Rica, BahamasUSDA Growing Zones: 10–11Height: 6–8 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light or partial shade

Native Area: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 5–6 inches (12 inches is possible)Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Bolivia, Brazil, ArgentinaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 1–3 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Bolivia, BrazilUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 6–12 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Mexico, Central America, EcuadorUSDA Growing Zones: 10–11Height: 3–12 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Mexico, Central America, West Indies, northern South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: Up to 3 feetSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Mexico, Central AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 6–12 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, JamaicaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 5–6 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: VenezuelaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 1–2 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, eastern Brazil, VenezuelaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 4–12 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Southeastern U.S., Central America, Chile to northern ArgentinaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 2–6 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Trinidad and Tobago, South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 6–12 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to South AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 6–12 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light

Native Area: Mexico, Central AmericaUSDA Growing Zones: 9–11Height: 6–15 inchesSun Exposure: Bright, indirect light; will tolerate some direct sun