It is native to southern Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

[3] The greenish silver leaves are wide at the base and taper to a point making an attractive, sculptural rosette, 90 cm (3 ft) or more in diameter and over 90 cm (3 ft) high in flower.

The inflorescence, on a thick, green stem, 150–380 mm (6–15 in) in height, densely branched.

Tillandsia xerographica inhabits dry forests and thorn scrub at elevations of 140 to 600 m in southern Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Average temperatures in its habitat range from 22 °C to 28 °C, with relative humidity between 60% and 72% and annual precipitation between 550 and 800 mm.