Hardy Perennials and Old Fashioned Flowers Part 22

A good fat loam suits them; the position should be rather shady and moist, but by all means well drained. A top dressing of good rotten manure, after all have done blooming, about the end of March, is a great help to them. All the h.e.l.lebores may be easily increased by root divisions, but the stock should be strong and healthy. Roots affected with the least rot or canker should be discarded, as from their slowness of growth they will not be worth garden s.p.a.ce. Seed may also be raised, but unless sown as soon as it is ripe germination is less certain, and always slower in proportion to the length of time it has been kept dry.

I may add that, in February (1883), I noticed a pot, sown with h.e.l.lebore seed in February of 1880; a few were just pus.h.i.+ng through the mould. The seed was sold to me as the produce of 1879. Since 1880 I have sown seed ripened on plants that were bloomed for indoor decoration, it being ready about February. From this I had nice little plants in less than twelve months. But by seed the process of propagation is slow, and not advisable unless the object is to obtain new varieties--a very easy matter, by the way, with this family, if the simple rules of cross-hybridising are applied.

All the Christmas Roses should be so planted that they may be conveniently shaded during their blooming time. They mostly flower during the dullest part of the year, and the blossom, more especially the white kinds and those with metallic hues, unless protected, become damaged with mud splashes. Hand-lights or bell-gla.s.ses should be freely used.

Flowering period, January to March.

h.e.l.leborus Antiquorum.

ANCIENT h.e.l.lEBORE; _Nat. Ord._ RANUNCULACEae.

In what sense this specific name is applied, or which meaning of the word is supposed to be exemplified in this plant, I have no means of being certain. It is very probable that the name is in reference to its "old-fas.h.i.+oned," but beautiful, flowers; that they are "worthy,"

"dearer, more acceptable," and of "more esteem and account," is likely to be the verdict of every amateur who grows this kind successfully, for a more lovely flower could hardly be desired--large, white, softly toned with pink and grey. Sepals very large, incurved, overlapping each other, having the appearance of being semi-double, and being of good substance.

The petals are small, short, of a lively green, and numerous. It is a bold and effective flower, but to see it in its full beauty it should be gathered spotlessly clean, as grey and pink tints are ugly when soiled.

The leaves accompanying the flowers are of the previous season's growth, and are produced on slender round stalks, 1ft. to 1ft. long, and much thickened at their junction with the leaves. The latter are nearly a foot across, pedate, or palm-shaped; the segments or leaflets are sub-divided and of irregular form, but mostly ovate, lance-shaped, finely and sharply toothed, and of a dull green colour. In a rich and free loam this kind proves a good grower, and when, in January, it is putting up its flower stalks, the buds being well developed and coloured from the time they appear above the earth, furnished with "floral leaf,"

in which respect it differs from the common Christmas Rose, it causes a pleased surprise that such a pure and delicate looking blossom can develop and mature in the depth of winter. As a cut flower by many it would be preferred to the better-known _H. niger_, not only for its antique tints, but for the fine cup form, which is constant, and the overlapping, incurved edges of the sepals. Altogether, its form is distinct, and when used in small gla.s.ses as single specimens, or, at most, accompanied only by a fern frond or a few blades of gra.s.s, it is a charming object.

Cultivation, as for _H. Abchasicus_.

Flowering period, January to April.

h.e.l.leborus Bocconi.

BOCCON'S h.e.l.lEBORE; _Nat. Ord._ RANUNCULACEae.

This, by many, is believed to be a species, but as such is unauthenticated. It is cla.s.sed as a variety of _H. purpurascens_, compared with which, however, there are some well-marked distinctions.

It is sometimes called _H. multifidus_, a name that suits it well, as being descriptive of its irregularly slashed foliage. It has but recently been brought under cultivation, and was found a native of the Apennines of Etruria. It proves perfectly hardy in this climate, and flowers in mid-winter unless the season is very severe. As will be inferred from its near relations.h.i.+p to _H. purpurascens_, like that species it has non-persistent foliage, and the flower stems with their floral leaves appear before the leaves of the root. As a species or variety, whichever it may be, its more marked features are to be seen in the form or cut of the leaves.

As a garden flower it is not showy, yet it stands out well in a group; the nodding cup-shaped bloom is a bright green colour, and, for a time, the outer sides of the sepals only are seen; but when the flowers are more fully expanded, the numerous and somewhat long stamens (which are a creamy-white) seem to nearly fill the cup; to my mind, its greatest charm is in the fragrant odour which it yields, resembling that of elder flowers. A single blossom, if plucked dry and when in its prime, scents a small room; at such a stage, the anthers are loaded with pollen, and the tubular petals are richly charged with nectar. True, these last-named qualities are common to the genus, but when they are coupled with that of a sweet perfume, and produced by an open-air plant in winter, such a plant, be its blossoms green or red, is too valuable to be neglected. The flowers are borne on stems 6in. to 12in. high, which are twice and thrice branched or forked, having six to twelve blossoms on a stem. The flowers are bright green, nearly 2in. across, cup-shaped, and drooping. The sepals are somewhat oval, concave, and overlapping; petals very short, pale green, and evenly arranged; stamens creamy-white; styles green. The flowers are supported by floral leaves, which are much divided, in the way of those of _H. purpurascens_, but the segments are more irregular in shape. The radical leaves have long stems, and are palmate; divisions lobed. It dies down entirely during the autumn. Being a vigorous grower and free bloomer, and the flowers very durable withal, it should be largely grown for the sake of its sweet-scented blossoms for cutting purposes. There is an allied variety cultivated under the name of _H. B. angustifolia_ (narrow-leaved).

a.s.suming that _H. Bocconi_ is a species, this is a variety but slightly removed from the typical form, inasmuch as the latter is not only much cut in the floral and radical leaves, but the shape is uncertain. This form, then, which, at least by its name, claims a specific feature in the cut of leaf, may be somewhat difficult to identify, more especially as there are no other dissimilarities of note. Seen, however, as a well-grown specimen, the feature of narrow foliage is not only manifest, but the plant is very effective.

Cultivation and flowering period, the same as with _H. Abchasicus_.

h.e.l.leborus Colchicus.

COLCHICAN h.e.l.lEBORE; _Nat. Ord._ RANUNCULACEae.

A new species from Asia Minor. This is a strong grower and blooms well.

The flowers vary in size and shade, but it may be said to be distinct in form and p.r.o.nounced in colour, the latter being an uncommon feature with the h.e.l.lebores; either growing or cut it is indispensable to a group.

Moreover, it is one of the best flowers of the genus, and would stand high even in a selection of the best six; it is one that should have a place in every collection.

It flowers amongst the previous season's foliage on branched stems; the sepals are somewhat round and flat, which gives the flower a stiff appearance. Still, from their unusual deep purple colour and the yellow stamens, together with the manner in which the sepals overlap each other, the flower is a most effective one; the petals are a bright green, and blend harmoniously with the yellow and purple parts. The leaves are very large, pedate, dentate, and distinctly veined. In a young state the foliage is richly coloured or tinted with "bloom." It enjoys a rich sandy loam and summer shade.

Cultivation, the same as for _H. Abchasicus_.

Flowering period, January to March.

h.e.l.leborus Cupreus.

COPPERY h.e.l.lEBORE; _Nat. Ord._ RANUNCULACEae.

Notwithstanding its peculiar colour, as implied by the name, this is a pleasing border flower; moreover, the somewhat large flowers are also numerous; blossoms 3in. across, arranged in cl.u.s.ters of four and six, and handsomely furnished with new foliage, are no mean things in the depth of winter. The specific name of this h.e.l.lebore, though applicable, is not so definite as some, inasmuch as the colour to which it refers is that of several other species and varieties; there may be rather more of the metallic hue in our subject, but it is so slight as to be outside the pale of notice to the florist. The Coppery h.e.l.lebore is a native of mid-Europe, and is one of recent introduction into this country, where it proves hardy but annually dies down. It grows and flowers freely in January, the flower stalks appearing before the radical foliage, and attaining a height of nearly a foot.

The flower stems are a palish green, with purplish markings, are twice branched and furnished with floral leaves; the latter have ample stipules and seven longish divisions, which are well spread out, distinctly veined underneath, and coa.r.s.ely toothed. The flowers are 2in.

to 3in. across, sepals pointed, overlapping for about half their length, and well expanded; their outsides are of a purplish colour, which extends along the stalk; the inner surface of the sepals is a yellowish green, the whole being suffused with a metallic hue or "bloom"; the stamens and anthers are a creamy white, the petals short and apple-green. The flowers droop gracefully, and are rendered all the more pleasing by the floral leaves which immediately support them. The leaves of the root are large and pedate, the divisions wide apart and unevenly toothed; the under sides are distinctly veined with purplish-brown when in a young state. The habit is robust, and the bloom is produced well above the radical foliage. There is a peculiar beauty about a strong flowering specimen which would hardly be expected from the above description, and it is even more difficult for me to do it justice.

In a cut state a whole stem, with its flowers in different stages of development, is fine. The youngest rosy-purple buds, about the size of a cob nut; the more opened bell-shaped forms, just showing both the inner and outer colours of the sepals; these surmounted by the longer-stalked, fully expanded, but drooping flower, with its ta.s.sel-like bunch of stamens, and all finely interspersed with young leaves of two distinct colours, according to the side which meets the eye--all go to make it a charming decoration for indoors, and if cut clean it deserves a place for the whole week or more during which it remains in good form.

Cultivation, as for _H. Abchasicus_.

Flowering period, January to March.

h.e.l.leborus Dumetorum.

BUSHY h.e.l.lEBORE; _Nat. Ord._ RANUNCULACEae.

One of the less showy species. It comes from Hungary, and has been grown in this country about seventy years. It entirely renews its foliage yearly, the flower stems appearing before the radical leaves. The flowers are small, green, and drooping; the sepals are roundish. The flower stems are twice branched, full-flowered, and furnished with the "cut floral leaf," which is nearly stalkless and palmate. The root leaves are very smooth and pedate. The bright green flowers mix well with others, but where h.e.l.lebores are grown in limited varieties this may be omitted without loss as regards floral beauty.

Cultivation, as for _H. Abchasicus_.

Flowering period, February and March.

h.e.l.leborus Foetidus.

STINKING h.e.l.lEBORE; _Nat. Ord._ RANUNCULACEae.