THE RARE FRANKLINIA 
The FRANKLIN TREE is an attractive large shrub or 
small tree, easily grown, thriving under about same condi- 
tions as do the Azaleas and Rhododendrons. In full bloom it 
is truly beautiful, blossoms that are big, waxen, snow white 
cups or bowls, each centered with a golden stamen tassel. 
Illustrated on front cover. Valued doubly because it blooms in 
late summer and early autumn when flowers on woody plants 
are not plentiful. Foliage usually becomes rich scarlet as the 
weather grows cooler. The Franklinia grows naturally as a 
bushy, but upright shrub, with several branching stems. It 
may also be trained as a small tree by allowing but one stem 
to grow, and then pruning into shape as the branches form. 
Botanically it is Gordonia alatamaha. Seeds germinate readily. 
They should be sown in a mixture of sand and peat, and 
kept well-watered at all times. Sowings may be made during 
the winter months under glass, germination taking place 
within a few weeks, or the sowing may be deferred until 
early spring, and made in a cold frame or out-door seed bed. 
10 seeds for 25c; 50 seeds for $1.00; 250 seeds for $4.00. 
Plants, one year and up, 7 to 11 inches high, single stem, 
each 70c; 8 for $1.90. Larger plants, 12 to 18 inches, that 
have started to branch, each $1.00; 3 for $2.75. Franklinia 
grows rapidly, and starts blooming while quite young. 
_*THE SOUTHERN STAR 
Blossoms that are inch-wide stars in 
many-flowered sprays. The coloring, a most 
unusual blue of silver-veiled, pastel quality 
seems to have been painted on each petal. 
The plants grow to some fifteen inches, the 
stems arching so that the constellations of 
blue blossoms face upward. It is OXYPET- 
ALUM CAERULEUM (or Tweedia). Illus- 
trated opposite. Seeds sown in open ground 
in April produce plants that are in bloom 
before end of June, constant blossoming 
from then until toward end of October. 
Also makes a pretty, long-blooming pot 
plant. Pkt. 20c; Wg oz. 35c; % oz. 60c. 
NEWER ANNUAL FLOWERS 
One may keep to just the newer annual flowers and still 
have a colorful, all-season garden of kinds that many garden- 
folk do not know, and have not yet enjoyed. One such newer 
flower is the Southern Star (Oxypetalum) offered above. 
Others we list below. Look for the description of each of 
them in its proper alphabetic position in this catalog. Several 
of these Newer Annuals are our own introductions, first 
grown commercially at our Old Orchard Nursery. Anoda 
Opaleup; Cleome Golden; Aphanostephius or Lazy Daisy; 
Cassia or Gold-coin Flower; Cuphea Avalon Hybrids; Hibis- 
cus Manihot; Incarvillea Annual; Proboscidea Blend; Star 
of Texas or Xanthisma; Tahoka Daisy; Viola Cliff Imp; 
Coral Flower. Separately these are priced at 15 or 20c the 
packet, but for just $1.35 we will send one packet each of 
the 12 kinds. 
OFFER 2A9. 
No changes. Order as NEW. ANNUAL 
CLIVIA HYBRIDS 
Here are aristocrats of the Amaryl- 
lis family to be grown as pot plants. 
From straplike foliage rise stout stems 
crowned with trumpet blossoms from 
softest creamy yellow, through golden 
and burnt orange, to salmon-tinged 
scarlet. Illustrated opposite. Leaves are 
wide, heavy, symmetrically arranged, 
and plant is attractive year around. 
Large succulent seeds, per seed 35c; 
3 seeds for $1.00; 8 seeds for $2.10. 
Young plants, not less than one year 
: old, each $1.00; 3 for $2.85. These 
are still well under blooming size, 
* and are intended for growing on. 


1949 CATALOG 51A 
~ Rex. D. Pearce 
Moorestown, N. J. 


[2] 

1 PENSTEMON AVALON HYBRID 
First offering of a new, 
winter-hardy strain of 
Hybrid Penstemon, crosses 
of Penstemons Murray- 
anus and_ grandiflorus. 
Fine large flowers in 
Grandiflorus size and 
form, carried on _ yard- 
high stems, see illustra- 
tion opposite. Some of 
them may be blush-suf- 
fused white, others will 
range through pale and 
deep pink, coral, rose 
and scarlet, with varia- 
tions into mauve, lilac 
and lavender. In a group 
of the seedlings, scarce 
two plants will show 
alike. Eventually many 
will undoubtedly be prop- 
agated by cuttings and 
offered as separate named 
varieties. The leaves are 
thick, crispy, blue-glau- 
cous, stem-clasping to al- 
most perfoliate effect. An 
OLD ORCHARD origi- 
nation. Stock is still lim- 
ited. 10 seeds for 60c; 20 
seeds (customer limit) 
for $1.00 

5 NEW ABELIA DELIGHT 
Blossoms of clear pink with tiny touch of yellow appear in 
constant succession from June to October when the fascinat- 
ing HYBRID ABELIA EDWARD GOUCHER is grown as an 
outdoor shrub. Safely winter-hardy to at least Philadelphia, 
but in areas of much colder climate will need sheltered posi- 
tion. Sometimes it is grown as a pot plant for window or 
greenhouse. It makes a graceful, arching growth, and in- 
doors it is easily kept to pot plant size by judicious pinching 
back from time to time. Outside it soon becomes a low shrub. 
Nice, young plants, branched, each 65c; 3 for $1.75. 
2 ABUTILON BELLS 
The Abutilons are showy pot plants of } 
easy handling throughout. Seeds grow 
readily. Often known as FLOWERING 
MAPLE from the shape of the leaves. Not 
related to true Maple. Illustrated opposite. 
Culture ‘‘w.”’ 
ABUTILON SPLENDID MIXED — The 
blossoms may be yellow, buff, orange, apri- 
cot, pink, rose or red, often with darker 
veinings. Easier than Geranium or Fuchsia. 
Seeds, per pkt. 25c; 38 pkts. for 70c; 
10 pkts. for $2.00. Plants, no color choice, | #= 
but all good. Each 60c; 3 for $1.65. When 3 |j 
are ordered, we try to give good variety. | 
ABUTILON STRIATUM THOMPSONI— 
Compact plants with yellow marbled 
““maple’’ leaves and flowers of golden 
orange. Plants, each 60c; 3 for $1.60. 
ABUTILON _ VITIFOLIUM—Cup-shaped flowers of blue- 
lavender. With protection, will winter outside in middle to 
upper South. In the North it is grown as a pot plant. Pkt. 25c. 
3 THE ACIDANTHERAS 
Decorative summer-flowering bulbs from Tanganyika and 
Ethiopia, to be handled in every way exactly as one would 
Gladiolus. The flaring, long-tubed flowers have a faint, sweet 
fragrance. Illustrated page 1. : 
BICOLOR—18 inches. Rich cream with patch of ch 
are the gracefully carried blossoms, these besterine eae 
rated wpe oF peat neat | through autumn. Bulbs firm resem- 
ing those of Freesia. Spring delivery. 3 for 50c: ' : 
25 for $2.50; 100 for $9.00. Pie gcne o ee 5 
MURIELIAE—24 inches. This differs from the las 
a bit larger in both plant and flower. The hisasovn te iss id 
white here and the starry throat-blotch is black maroon. 
Western Ethiopia. A valuable bulb-garden addition. Bulbs 
spring delivery, each 35c; 3 for $1.00; 8 for $2.00. ; 

