Hardy Perennials and Old Fashioned Flowers Part 2

ROCK MADWORT, _or_ GOLDEN TUFT; _Nat. Ord._ CRUCIFERae.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 3. ALYSSUM SAXATILE.

(One-third natural size.)]

This pleasing and well-known hardy, evergreen, half-woody shrub is always a welcome flower. From its quant.i.ty of bloom all its other parts are literally smothered (see Fig. 3). When pa.s.sing large pieces of it in full blow, its fragrant honey smell reminds one of summer clover fields.

Its golden yellow flowers are densely produced in panicles on proc.u.mbent stems, 12in. to 18in. long. The little flowers, from distinct notches in the petals, have a different appearance from many of the order _Cruciferae_, as, unless they are well expanded, there seem to be eight instead of four petals. The leaves are inversely ovate, lanceolate, villose, and slightly toothed. A specimen will continue in good form during average weather for about three weeks. It is not only seen to most advantage on rockwork, where its prostrate stems can fall over the stones, but the dry situation is in accordance with its requirements; still, it is not at all particular, but does well in any sunny situation, in any soil that is not over moist or ill drained. It is easily and quickly propagated by cuttings in early summer.

Flowering period, April and May.

Anchusa Italica.

ITALIAN ALKANET; _Nat. Ord._ BORAGINACEae.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 4. ANCHUSA ITALICA (Flower Spray).

(One-third natural size.)]

A hardy herbaceous perennial of first-cla.s.s merit for gardens where there is plenty of room; amongst shrubs it will not only prove worthy of the situation, but, being a ceaseless bloomer, its tall and leafy stems decked with brilliant flowers may always be relied upon for cutting purposes; and let me add, as, perhaps, many have never tried this fine but common flower in a large vase, the stems, if cut to the length of 18in., and loosely placed in an old-fas.h.i.+oned vase, without any other flowers, are more than ornamental--they are fine.

Its main features are seen in its bold leafy stems, furnished with large, dark blue, forget-me-not-like flowers, nearly all their length.

The little white eyes of the blossoms are very telling (see Fig. 4). The flowers are held well out from the large leaves of the main stem by smaller ones (from 1in. to 8in. long), at the ends of which the buds and flowers are cl.u.s.tered, backed by a pair of small leaflets, like wings.

Just before the buds open they are of a bright rose colour, and when the flowers fade the leafy calyx completely hides the withered parts, and other blooms take their places between the wing-like pair of leaflets; so the succession of bloom is kept up through the whole summer. The leaves of the root are very large when fully grown during summer--over a foot long--those of the stems are much less; all are lance-shaped and pointed, plain at the edges, very hairy, and of a dark green colour. The stems are numerous, upright, and, as before hinted, branched; also, like the leaves, they are covered with stiff hairs, a characteristic common to the order. Well-established plants will grow to the height of 3ft. to 5ft.

Flowering period, May to September.

Anchusa Sempervirens.

_Nat. Ord._ BORAGINACEae.

This is a British species, and, as its name denotes, is evergreen; not, let me add, as a tall plant, for the stems wither or at least become very sere, only the large leaves of the root remaining fresh; and though it has many points of difference from _A. Italica_, such as shorter growth, darker flowers and foliage, and more oval leaves--these form the distinctions most observable. By its evergreen quality it is easily identified in winter. There is also an important difference from the axillary character of the flower stems. With these exceptions the description of _A. Italica_ will fairly hold good for this native species.

This Alkanet has various other names, as _Borago sempervirens_, _Buglossum s._, and with old writers it, together with allied species, was much esteemed, not only for the flowers, but for its reputed medicinal properties. To those who care to grow these good old plants I would say, well enrich the soil; when so treated, the results are very different from those where the plants have been put in hungry and otherwise neglected situations; this favourable condition may be easily afforded, and will be more than repaid. Strong roots may be transplanted at any time, and propagation is more quickly carried out by division of the woody roots, which should be cut or split so that each piece has a share of bark and a crown. Just before new growth has begun, as in January, is the best time for this operation, so that there is no chance of rot from dormancy.

Flowering period, May to September.

Andromeda Tetragona.

_Syn._ Ca.s.sIOPE TETRAGONA; _Nat. Ord._ ERICACEae.

A dwarf hardy evergreen shrub, which comes to us from Lapland and North America; though a very beautiful subject for either rockwork or border, it is rarely seen. It is not one of the easiest plants to grow, which may, to some extent, account for its rarity. Still, when it can have its requirements, it not only thrives well, but its handsome form and flowers repay any extra trouble it may have given. In the culture of this, as of most plants of the order _Ericaceae_, there is decidedly a right way and a wrong one, and if the species now under consideration has one or two special requirements it deserves them.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 5. ANDROMEDA TETRAGONA.

(One-half natural size.)]

With me it never exceeds a height of 6in. or 7in., is much branched, and of a fine apple green colour; the flowers are small but very beautiful, bell-shaped, pendent, and springing from the leafy stems of the previous year's growth. The leaves are small as well as curious, both in form and arrangement, completely hiding their stems; their roundish grain-shaped forms are evenly arranged in four rows extending throughout the whole length of the branches (whence the name _tetragona_), giving them a square appearance resembling an ear of wheat, but much less stout (see Fig. 5); the little leaves, too, are frosted somewhat in the way of many of the saxifrages. It is next to impossible to describe this pretty shrub; fortunately, the cut will convey a proper idea at a glance. All who possess more select collections of hardy plants and shrubs should not fail to include this; it is fit for any collection of fifty choice species.

I struggled long before finding out the right treatment, as presumably I now have, yet it is very simple, in fact, only such as many other plants should have; but, unlike them, _A. tetragona_ will take no alternative; it must have partial shade, sandy peat or leaf soil, and be planted in a moist or semi-bog situation. On the raised parts of rockwork it became burnt up; planted in loam, though light, it was dormant as a stone; in pots, it withered at the tips; but, with the above treatment, I have flowers and numerous branchlets. Many little schemes may be improvised for the accommodation of this and similar subjects. Something of the bog character would appear to be the difficulty here; a miniature one may be made in less than half an hour. Next the walk dig a hole 18in. all ways, fill in with sandy peat, make it firm; so form the surface of the walk that the water from it will eddy or turn in. In a week it will have settled; do not fill it up, but leave it dished and put in the plant.

Gentians, _pyrolas_, calthas, and even the bog pimpernel I have long grown so.

_A. tetragona_ can be propagated by division of the roots, but such division should not be attempted with other than a perfectly healthy plant. It should be done in spring, just as it begins to push, which may be readily seen by the bright green tips of the branchlets; and it is desirable, when replanting, to put the parts a little deeper, so as to cover the dead but persistent leaves about the bottoms of the stems which occur on the parts four or more years old. After a year, when so planted, I have found good roots emitted from these parts, and, doubtless, such deeper planting will, in some way, meet its requirements, as in this respect they are provided for in its habitats by the annual and heavy fall of leaves from other trees which shade it.

Flowering period, April and May.

Anemone Alpina.

ALPINE WINDFLOWER; _Nat. Ord._ RANUNCULACEae.

From Austria, the foliage closely resembling that of _A. sulphurea_, but the flowers are larger and of various colours. It is said to be the parent of _A. sulphurea_.

It flowers in June. See _A. sulphurea_.

Anemone Apennina.

MOUNTAIN WINDFLOWER; _Nat. Ord._ RANUNCULACEae.

This is one of the "old-fas.h.i.+oned" flowers of our gardens--in fact, a native species, having a black tuberous root, which forms a distinct, though invisible characteristic of the species. As the old names are somewhat descriptive, I give them--viz., Geranium-leaved Anemone, and Stork's-bill Windflower.

The appearance of a bold piece of this plant when in flower is exceedingly cheerful; the soft-looking feathery foliage forms a rich groundwork for the lavish number of flowers, which vary much in colour, from sky-blue to nearly white, according to the number of days they may have been in blow, blue being the opening colour. The flowers are produced singly on stems, 6in. high, and ornamented with a whorl of finely-cut leaflets, stalked, lobed, and toothed; above this whorl the ruddy flower stem is much more slender. During suns.h.i.+ne the flowers are 1in. across the tips of sepals, becoming reflexed. The foliage, as before hinted, is in the form of a whorl, there being no root leaf, and the soft appearance of the whole plant is due to its downiness, which extends to and includes the calyx. The lobes of the leaves are cupped, but the leaves themselves reflex until their tips touch the ground, whence their distinct and pleasing form.

This plant is most at home in the half shade of trees, where its flowers retain their blue colour longer. It should be grown in bold patches, and in free or sandy soil. The tubers may be transplanted soon after the tops have died off in late summer.

Flowering period, April and May.