Ball-moss

Tillandsia recurvata

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found on tree branches in maritime forests (northwards) or southwards epiphytic in a wide range of situations and also on utility wires and rock faces. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

21

Good

Native to Louisiana (estimated). How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 71%

Light: Partial shade, Full shade, Full sun
Soil moisture: Dry to moist

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At a glance

Bloom: January to December

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Not yet recorded · Height · Spread · Life cycle · Leaves

This plant is missing most of its facts, so Quercus is looking them up in old botany books.

Recorded in 7 Louisiana parishes.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

3CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including LA

Genus host records with ranges including LA · Tillandsia

Dahana atripennisBlack-Winged Dahana
Hypercompe scriboniaGiant Leopard Moth, Great Leopard Moth
Xylesthia pruniramiellaClemens' Bark Moth, Speckled Xylesthia

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

0BeesSoutheastern regional records

0Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Bromeliaceae

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “January to December” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Light · “Partial shade; Full shade; Full sun (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Soil · “Dry; Moist (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia

Also known as

Ball moss

Conservation status

Louisiana rank	SNR
Global rank	G5
LA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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Sources