This Tillandsia species used to be one of the grey leaved Vriesea species.  They are found in Ecuador and Peru.  The Ecuador version is larger and slightly softer and thicker than the Peruvian form.  Both have silver-white foliage and tall branched purple-colored inflorescence with tubular dark purple flowers.  This is the larger form collected in Peru.

 In contrast to the similar T. cereicola, the flower spike is more of a purple-bubblegum pink color.  The flowers are a similar dark pink color.

Unlike T. cereicola, T. hitchcockiana does not have stolons, and the pups grow right from the base of the mother plant.

Please note this plant had previously been sold as T. cereicola.  It had incorrectly been switched with T. hitchcockiana.