that require the same culture. These include some of the most unusual and 
fascinating plants. Not only are the flowers in intriguing pastel colors but the 
floral display is made brilliant by the large vividly colored bracts that cover 
the scape. The leaves form a rosette and are more or less rigid. Some have 
brightly colored leaves and others are often mottled, striped or barred. All 
are desirable foliage plants. 
How to Grow Billbergias. All are tropical or semitropical and thus are 
hardy in outdoor gardens only in the deep south. But they are all easy to 
grow in pots and add distinction as well as beauty to the window garden. 
In pots they should have a soil of %4 sand or sandy loam and % peat 
or leaf mould. There should be plenty of drainage material in the pot as poor 
drainage may soon destroy them. Do not overwater when first planted or 
in winter when semi-dormant. Nor should they become dry enough to shrivel 
the foliage. In hot weather when they are growing well, water liberally. 
Keep a drink of water in their cups in the center. 
In the outdoor garden they should have the same soil as recommended 
for pots. A few, like “nutans,” will grow in nearly any soil but will do much 
better in the type recommended. 
They need about half shade. Too much sun will burn and finally destroy — 
_ ~ the foliage. Those species and varieties having highly colored foliage do not 
" - develop their rich colors when too deeply shaded. Most of our plants are 
grown in a well shaded Clivia house. When well established and growing, 
richer colors may be brought out by giving a little more sun than we do. 
Aregelia spectabilis. The bronze foliage with greyish green transverse 
bands on the outside make this a spectacular plant. $3.50. 
Billbergia calophylla. Large, bronze-green foliage with contrasting bars 
5 ee Very large, showy inflorescence of blood-red bracts and blue flowers. 
B. corina. Beautiful foliage, barred grey. $2.50. 
B. distachia. Foliage, reddish green with cream spots. Long flower 
racemes with rose pink bracts. and blue flowers with green margin. Blooms 
ssarly spring and again in late summer. 50c. Three clones, slightly different, 
ne of each for $1.15. 
SB. nutans. The most popular of all as it blooms in midwinter and is very 
ovely. Pink bracts, blue and green flowers..50c. Three for $1.00. 
>  B. nutans x cryptanthus acaulis. A highly colored hybrid with bronze 
=) and green leaves. Compact growth. $2.00. — 
© B. Pyramidalis Hybrid. Pyramidalis x Amoena. Both parents are out- 
y son 8 and this hybrid is no less. Beautiful in foliage and inflorescence. 
B. rubro-cyanea. The most colorful in foliage, showing green, white and 
red combinations. Inflorescence, crimson bracts, flowers green, edged dark 
blue. To bring out colors in foliage give more sun exposure, being careful 
that foliage does not burn. Two seedlings of this sanderiana-nutans hybrid 
at $1.25 ea. or both for $2.00. 
B. speciosa. Foliage green above. Under side greyish green. Bracts rose, 
flowers pale green tipped with blue. $2.00. 
B. Theodore L. Meade (Meade’s Hybrid). Nutans x Nobile. Handsome 
green foliage with vivid large inflorescence. It is called an everbloomer. But 
this does not mean that one plant blooms continuously or even almost. 
However, a large group of plants will show flowers for nearly the entire 
year. It has no definite season but flowers from new leads as they reach the 
proper maturity. $2.00. 
| B. thrysiflora. Mature foliage faintly barred. Summer blooming. Vivid 
inflorescence, scarlet bracts, blue and purple flowers. $1.50. . 
B. Zebrina. Leaves with contrasting white bands and spots. Salmon 
bracts and green flowers. $2.50. 
Collection of all 12 varieties, $20.00. | 
The Big Four Collection includes Nutans, Distachia and two slightly 
different clones of Rubro-cyanea. Here you have the most colorful in foliage 
and a mid-winter bloomer that would cost you singly $3.50. The 4 for $2.75. 
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