20 ALPINES AND BOG-PLANTS 
rank of small shrubs for the rock-garden. Especially is 
it lovely when, with spring, the young green of the 
dawning leaves contrasts with the russet and ruby of 
last year’s persisting sprays. 
But perhaps, of all shrubs introduced in the last twenty 
years, Buddleia variabilis, in its varieties, takes the first 
place. Almost tropically luxuriant is this wonderful 
great ragged bush, which is hardier and more easy-going 
and more rampant than many a Lilac or Syringa (not to 
mention, too, that it blooms in August, when all other 
flowering shrubs are long since over and done with). 
Almost tropically gorgeous, too, with its countless fox- 
brush spikes of dense violet flowers, golden-eyed and 
sweetly-scented (which last so much longer if only they 
can be protected from the ravages of bees). Buddleia 
variabilis requires hard pruning, and its flowers do not 
stand in water, otherwise the plant has no fault of any 
kind, for any position in the whole garden. There is 
now a prostrate form of it, too, which I am trying this 
year. If it proves as magnificent as its description, this 
should be as invaluable for the rock-garden as type 
variabilis is for the garden in general. Globosa I have 
not yet grown, it being too large; and the almost dizzily 
sweet asiatica is a cold greenhouse plant. Remains 
Buddleia Colvillet, reported as a miracle of beauty and 
difficulty, delicate, miffy, shy,—but glorious, in its native 
Himalyas, with showers of big rosy trumpets over soft 
grey leaves. I foolishly and desperately resolved last 
year that I would have a try at Buddleia Colvillei. I 
ordered a plant which, when it arrived, turned out to be 
at least three inches high. In utmost trepidation and 
scorn of my own rashness, I planted it out none the less, 
under a wall, in good soil. Immediately the most fearful 
storms, sleets, and frosts swept down across the north, 
followed by a blighting drought accompanied by unceas- 
