Tillandsia recurvata derives mainly physical support and not nutrition from its host; it photosynthesizes its own food, absorbing water that collects on its leaves.

[11] Ball moss is indigenous to the warmer regions of the Americas; it ranges from the southern United States to northern Argentina and Chile.

[13] It has been reported in nature from Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, Mexico, most of Central and South America, and many of the islands in the West Indies.

[2][14][15] In the United States, ball moss is considered unattractive by some, and many landowners attempt to remove these bromeliads from their trees using different chemical solutions.

[citation needed] The Pima of Mexico occasionally eat T. recurvata and T. erubescens flowers due to their high sugar content.