Bloomipedia
Giant airplant (Tillandsia utriculata)
Photo: Sterling Herron via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Giant airplant

Tillandsia utriculata

Giant airplant (Tillandsia utriculata) is a flowering plant in the Bromeliaceae family, native in the lower 48 states.

Native to Florida

Giant airplant is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

2states where USDA records it
4,989FL sightings*
4,989U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Florida

Quick look

Tillandsia utriculata, commonly known as the spreading airplant, the giant airplant, or wild pine is a species of bromeliad that is native to Florida and Georgia in the United States, the Caribbean, southern and eastern Mexico, Central America, and Venezuela.

  • It belongs to the Bromeliaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 2 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Florida. NatureServe
  • iNaturalist has 4,989 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #36 among the 151 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in Florida (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (28 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Florida
State endangered On Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055): state endangered. NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: it's on Florida's rare plant list (state endangered); NatureServe ranks it S3 in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055 NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records giant airplant in 2 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Florida, Georgia.

Florida counties with USDA records: 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.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Lower 48 states: Native; Navassa Island: Native; Puerto Rico: Native; U.S. Virgin Islands: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 50 counties across 3 states; the most are in Florida (33), Puerto Rico (14), Virgin Islands (3).

Other Tillandsia on Bloomipedia (2): Ballmoss, Cardinal airplant.

More Florida flowers

Ballmoss (Tillandsia recurvata)

Ballmoss

Tillandsia recurvata

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: April–August
Cardinal airplant (Tillandsia fasciculata)

Cardinal airplant

Tillandsia fasciculata

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: February–May
White beggarticks (Bidens alba)

White beggarticks

Bidens alba

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: January–March

Sources