2i6 ROCK GARDENS 



A. Buchanani. — Any aspect. Any light sandy soil. Close 

 creeping habit. Rapid grower, but at the same time does not 

 appear to have the encroaching habit of some of the other varieties. 

 Finely divided foliage of bright pea-green colour. Round, reddish 

 burrs freely produced, flowering July to August Division. This 

 is one of the best of the family, and on account of its lovely foliage 

 and less rampant growth may be used for the choicer parts of the 

 rock garden. 



A. inermis. — Any aspect and soil. Creeping habit and rapid 

 grower. Bronzy-green foliage. Reddish, rather insignificant burrs. 

 Propagated by division. Useful for carpeting the less choicer parts. 



A. microphylla (syn. Novae Zealandiae). — Any aspect. Will 

 thrive in almost any soil, but prefers that of a light and sandy 

 nature. Creeping habit, forming a dense carpet about ^ inch high. 

 It is slow-growing as compared with others of the family. The 

 inconspicuous small round heads or burrs which are freely produced 

 are furnished with bright crimson spines from July to December. 

 Pretty finely cut, small, bronzy-green foliage. Easily propagated 

 by division. This is quite the best variety of the family, being 

 neat of habit, and during the autumn and even into December the 

 crimson burrs make quite a feature. It is altogether an indispens- 

 able plant for some level spot beneath the eye. 



A. ovalifolia. — Indifferent to either aspect or soil. Grows about 

 9 inches high ; of vigorous habit. Purplish-coloured burrs, pro- 

 duced from July to September. Bright green fern-like foliage. 

 Propagation by division. Too rampant a grower to plant in the 

 choicer parts of the garden, but in the wilder will be found useful 

 as a carpet under trees. 



A. pulchella. — Any aspect and soil. Creeping habit and very 

 vigorous growth. Bronzy-green foliage. Propagation by division. 

 Is a useful plant for covering large stones or bare spaces, but owing 

 to its growth should be reserved for the wilder parts of the garden. 



A. Dryentea^ A. glabra^ A. myriopkylla, A. Sanguisorbae. — Are 

 all useful for carpeting, but should not be associated with the choicer 

 rock plants. 



A. laevigata.— \s a somewhat shrubby species, with glaucous 

 green leaves. 



AcANTHOLiMON (Plumbaginaceae), Prickly Thrift 



A delightful and attractive genus of dwarf mountain plants which 

 should be grown in every rock garden. The flowers resemble those 

 of the Thrift, to which genus they are allied. The plants form 

 branching, cushion-like mats of rigid spiny leaves, from which they 

 get the name of Prickly Thrift. They all require a sunny and well- 



