IRISH GARDENING 



83 



R. LUTESCENS. — Tliis is essentially a plant for 

 southern gardens, as it flowers during April and 

 starts into growth earh% thus in most seasons 

 the plants sufl^er, unless in very favourable 

 positions, from frosts and cold winds. The 

 yellow flowers, which are both terminal and 

 axillary towards the ends of the shoots, are its 

 cliief claim for consideration. 



R. MICRANTHUM. — 111 soiiie respects this must 

 be considered among the most distinct of recent 

 introductions. When cut and placed in water, 

 sprays of this Rhododendron suggest more that 

 of a Ledum, with its closely-packed terminal 

 racemes of dainty little white flowers, which 

 open towards the end of May. An evergreen 

 bush, it is inclined to be rather straggly in habit, 

 ci circumstance which can be overcome b\' 

 placing several plants in close proximity wliicli, 

 as they grow, will intermix. R. micranthum 

 is a native of Xoi-thern and Central China and 

 Manchuria. 



R. MOUPINENSE. — Introduced b}' Mr. Wilson 

 in 1909, this is a dwarf evergreen species 1 foot 

 to 2 feet . or possibly eventually a little more in 

 height. With dark green oval leaves about an 

 inch long and purple spotted Avhite flowers 

 2 inches across, R. moupinense will find most 

 congenial surroundings in the rock garden, where 

 the flowers which expand in April will be afforded 

 some jirotection. 



R. POLYLEPis. — Under the name of R. 

 Harrovianum this species from Western China 

 is already fairly well known in our gardens. 

 Though an evergreen, the plants have an 

 unhapp3' cold look about them in winter, at 

 least if the position is at all exposed. This, 

 coupled with the rather dull looking pale purple 

 flowers, hardly warrant its extended cultivation 

 in view of the many better species among the 

 ne\\er introductions. Even Avhen not in flower, 

 R. polylepis is readily recognised by its crinkled 

 leaves. 



R. siDEROPHYLLUM. — This sjiecies is in the 

 way of R. yunnanense, but, in addition to 

 botanical dififerences, the habit is rather more 

 upright, forming a somewhat pjTamidal bush, 

 and the blush tint is more pronounced in the 

 spotted flowers, in addition to flowering a 

 foitnight earlier. A pleasing evergreen, the 

 llowers are about H inches in diameter, borne 

 in clusters towards the ends of tlie previous 

 season's growths. A Western Chinese species 

 first introduced by Mr. Wilson in 1904. 



R. S0UI.IEI. — This is among the choicest and 

 most di.stinct of Mr. Wilson's introductions 

 from Western China. Likely to prove a most 

 attractive evergreen, R. Souliei has very distinct 



dark green glaucous leaves, heart-shaped, 2 

 inches to 3 inches long, and open saucer-shar)ed 

 blossoms up to 3 inches in diameter of a pleasina 

 flesh-pmk or rosy-pink tint. Flowering in Mav'' 

 there is less likelihood of the flowers beina 

 damaged by frosts and cold winds than in som? 

 of the other species mentioned. 



R. SUTCHUENENSE.— This is oiie of the large- 

 leaved evergreen species, making an attractive 

 bush even when not in flower. It has large bell- 

 shaped, oi)en flowers, 2}y inches to 3 inches across 

 m colour a lilac-pink or rosy-pink shade. Unfor- 

 tunately the flowers open during March and 

 early April, and thus as a flowering bush R. 

 sutchuenense is suitable only for the mild and 

 favoured parts of the south and west. 



R. YANTtUNUM.— Among the evergreen 

 Rhododendrons of Chinese origin, with com- 

 paratively small leaves and purple flowers, this 

 IS the most pleasing. Though the plants raised 

 from seeds vary considerably hi the shade of 

 colour, a goodly number are of a rich glowing 

 reddish hue. By selecting the best of these for 

 propagation a distinct and charming addition to 

 our hardy Rhododendrons may be looked for. 



R. YUNNANEN.SE.— We are indebted to the 

 Abbe Delavay for first introducing this plant to 

 our gardens. A very free-flowering bush, R. 

 yunnanense blossoms during May, and is 

 delightful as a la\Mi bed or grouped in the 

 shrubbery border. With this species also there 

 will have to be some selecting, as individual 

 plants i3roduce flowers superior in every wa\- to 

 others. The blush-tinted blooms are prettil^^ 

 spotted with reddish brown markings. 



Anemone sylvestris grandiflora. 



This is a very beautiful plant, suitable for a 

 moist position in the rock garden, but also 

 amenable to cultivation in a well managed 

 herbaceous border. Flowering in May for a 

 considerable time, this charming plant keeps 

 up the season of flowering, which is started by 

 the earUer flowering s])ecies. blanda and appe*^- 

 nina. The variety grandiflora is stronger in 

 growth and bears larger flowers than the oidinaiy 

 form, and is in every way a desirable plant. 

 si)reading freely, and producing pure white 

 flowers some two inches acro.ss. 



Also flowering in May. Anemone globosa is 

 distinct and rare. In this case the flowers are 

 much smaller, globo.se in sha])e, and unique in 

 their ro.s\--pink colour, not common in the 

 smaller growing early-flowering Anemones. 



Windflower. 



