Hi everyone.

Bobby - Thanks for posting your picture and taking part in our discussions, the more members we can get taking part, the more interesting it becomes and the more we all learn.

Your plant is a hybrid from the genus Billbergia and although initially, the species weren't everyone's "cup of tea", as the colours were mainly quite drab, but it was from the results of hybridising, that they now come in many beautiful colours and are becoming more and more popular.

The man to thank mainly for this is Don Beadle more commonly known in the U.S. as "Mister Billbergia". To read about his interesting involvement with Billbergias see: http://www.fcbs.org/articles/Don_Beadle_Bio.htm

I can't give you a varietal name for your plant as there are a great many hybrids of similar colour and markings, but if I was a betting man I would say it's possibly Billbergia 'Hallelujah' or a hybrid bred from it, as it's very popular and widely grown around the world especially in the U.S. where it was bred. Even more of a coincidence is the fact that Bill. 'Hallelujah' was another hybrid bred by Don Beadle.

See: http://registry.bsi.org/?genus=BILLBERGIA&id=889#889

All the best, Nev.

I concur with Nev.

Nev, thanks for the interesting information and link! I'm off to read about Mister B!

Bobby, very nice plant! Please tell us that you didn't pay $250 for it!

Carol in Jacksonville

Hi everyone.

Carol - The reason I started swapping and growing my own hybrids was that I couldn't afford to pay prices like you mention. You can buy a single plant with a pup like Bobby's around here for $10 - $12, so quite reasonable I think as it's also a proven parent with almost 100 registered hybrids to it's credit.

Here's a couple of examples from Bill. 'Fred Red' x Bill. 'Hallelujah', bred by a friend of mine. The plant in the second picture has since been registered as Bill. 'Stephen Stone'.

Bill. 'Fred Red' x Bill. 'Hallelujah'

Bill. 'Stephen Stone'

All the best, Nev.

Bobby nothing wrong with that era of USA.")) I haven't found many brom growers in the hill country. Lots here in Houston/Galveston/Freeport area tho

In California,they tend to be slow growers. So treasure one that gets size to it. Not hard to keep..but very slow.

Hi everyone.

I found my Billbergias a bit slow to grow also when I had them on benches, but once I hung them up and they had abundant air circulation, they really grew much better.

All the best, Nev