Giant Air Plant information: Its scientific name is Tillandsia Utriculata. They are called 'air plants' because they typically live in trees. People sometimes think the name means they can survive air alone, but thats wrong! they still need water and nutrients (typically from decaying leaf litter they collect). They don't have a very high survival rate on the ground, and tend to die from staying wet for too long. Im just trying to raise awareness because I see people throwing them out or mowing over them all time time and there are very few left in my area.