Tillandsia caliginosa is similar to Tillandsia crocata and Tillandsia myosura but there are easy ways to know the difference. Tillandsia caliginosa grows larger than either of the others. It does not have coarse trichomes like Tillandsia crocata and the leaves are much longer than the more stout, short leaves of Tillandsia myosura. The yellow and brown flowers are fragrant which is an added bonus for this distichous species.