Tillandsia purpurea grows terrestrially in the coastal deserts of Peru along with species like T. latifolia and T. paleaceae, in these conditions the plants survive for much of the year on coastal fog.

Purpurea is a beautiful species with soft, delicate, silvery, light green leaves. It produces lovely highly scented flowers that are purple and creamy white inside, similar to T. straminea.

This species is easy to grow in high light levels with quick drying times or very good air-movement.

This is a named cultivar of the quite variable species purpurea. It has tightly stacked or whorled leaves that when viewed from above have a star like shape.