Billbergia saundersi 
Billbergia 
Bird of Paradise 
These are bromeliads, air plants, related to the 
pineapple. They naturally grow on trees like 
orchids but under cultivation seem to thrive un- 
der any and all conditions. They may be grown 
in sand, peat, leaf-mould, moss, osmunda fiber 
or any combination of these ingredients. The 
main point to consider is that they must have 
perfect drainage. They may be grown on limbs 
of trees or may be tied to a piece of rustic wood 
with sphagnum moss and hung. They like fil- 
tered sunlight or light shade, overhead watering 
and not too wet at the roots. They hold water 
in the rosette of leaves and use it from there 
rather than from the roots. These cultural con- 
ditions apply to all bromeliads we list in this 
catalog unless otherwise noted elsewhere. Deliv- 
ery anytime. 
NOTE—AII bromeliads are mailed dry and 
bareroot. Occasionally they will come without 
any roots, but will form roots soon “after being 
planted. 
AMOENA X SAUNDERSI. A_ new hybrid 
combining the brilliant color of amoena_ with 
the attractive foliage of Saundersi. May bloom 
at any time. $1.00 ea. 
BUCHHOLTZI No. 1. This is the species that 
we have been listing as B. amoena, but it has 
been identified as a variety of B. Buchholtzi. It 
is a dwarf variety with brilliant Orange-scarlet 
bracts and deep blue flowers. It flowers several 
times a year when well established. $1.50 ea. 
i 
BUCHHOLTZI No. 2. This has tall, light 
green foliage and rose bracts with lavender flow- 
ers. $1.00 ea. 
_BUCHHOLTZI No. 3. This has very attrac- 
tive leaves of huge size, deep green with bronzy 
shadings and barred transversly with gray. It be- 
comes purplish in the sun. The flowers are vio- 
let with pink bracts. $2.00 ea. 
CALOPHYLLA. (Red, white and _ blue.) 
Foliage wide, bronzy green heavily barred trans- 
versely with gray. Blood red bracts, white ovary 
and dark blue flowers. Everblooming. A grand 
house plant. $1.50 ea. 
DISTACHYA. Long, pointed foliage heavily 
spotted cream. Tall pendent flowers appear in 
the spring. Bracts deep rose, flowers blue and 
green. 50c ea. 
ELVENIA SLOSSON. Formerly listed as nu- 
tans x Alberti. Very long, strap shaped deep 
green leaves which: turn purplish bronze in the 
sun. Flower stems sometimes are nearly three feet 
long. Bracts bright red. Flowers deep purple. A 
very thrifty grower and a fine pot plant. Spring 
bloomer. $1.50 ea. 
EUPHEMIAE. A _stoloniferous plant that is 
ideal for hanging baskets. Wide, reflexed blue 
green leaves 12 inches high. The powdery rose 
bracts are followed by violet colored large flowers. 
$2.00 ea. 
LEPTOPODA. This is commonly called Per- 
manent Wave plant because the wide, spotted 
green leaves are permanently curled backward. 
pees red, flowers blue and yellow. 12”. $2.50 
each. 
LIETZI. A miniature form with curly, light 
green leaves spotted yellow, and cheerful flowers 
with cerise bracts. We recommend this for win- 
dow gardens. $2.00 ea. 
NUTANS. This is the common variety grown 
everywhere in Southern California. Narrow 
leaves. Compact grower. Winter bloomer. Bracts 
light pink. Flowers blue and green on pendent 
Stemi OG eds 
PORTEANA. Formerly listed as nobile. Larg- 
est of the varieties listed, both in foliage and 
flower. The leaves are wide, stiff and deep 
green. The pendent flower stem hangs over the 
side and the tips of the flowers touch the ground. 
The bracts are brilliant rose, wide-spread and 
a foot across. The tassel of closely packed flow- 
ers are yellowish green and the petals are tightly 
recurved. Rare. $3.50 ea. 
SAUNDERSI. A very striking foliage plant 
with purplish bronze leaves heavily spotted 
cream. Bracts bright red. Flowers blue. $1.00 ea. 
SPECIOSA. Wide, powdery green foliage, pink 
bracts We recommend this for window gardens. 
$2.00 ea. 
SPECIOSA X EUPHEMIAE. A very attrac- 
tive variety with foliage similar to speciosa but 
with bright violet flowers. $2.00 ea. 
THEODORE L. MEAD. A lovely variety 
produced by this well known Florida _horti- 
culturist. A luxuriant grower with low spreading 
shiny foliage and green and blue flowers. Pink 
bracts. Superb plant for hanging basket culture. 
Everblooming habit. $1.50 ea. 
THYRSOIDES HYBRIDS. A cross between 
B. Thrysoides and B. Amoena. We believe this 
is the finest of all hybrid-billbergias to date. 
Light green to bronzy, wide, upright leaves. Stem 
stiff and upright, Large rosettes of scarlet bracts 
and violet flowers. Winter and summer bloom- 
ing. $1.50 ea. 
