Tillandsia tricolor has bright green leaves and castaneous (dark brown) leaf sheaths (bases) and, interestingly, the transition between the two has many small brown spots that dot the green leaf blade. In bright light, the leaf blades of Tillandsia tricolor will often blush red. The inflorescence is cherry and canary yellow and the flowers are indigo, a very dark blue. The offsets are produced on a short runner called a stolon which separates the offsets from the mother plant.