846 



SAXIFRAGA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



SAXIFRAGA. 



with yellow and crimson. China. Closely 

 allied is the delicate .S. cuscutiiformis, with its 

 thread-like runners similar to the stems of a 

 Dodder, and distinguished from S. sai-nientosa 

 by smaller leaves and more uniform petals. It 

 may be used in much the same way, but requires 

 more care. It is a beautiful plant for growing 

 in Moss in a cool fernery, for it is perfectly at 

 home, and the delicate markings of its leaves 

 show up against the green of its surroundings. 



Saxifraga sarmentosa. 



S. Stracheyi is a strong plant with leaves 

 nearly as broad as long. Its flowers, produced 

 on broad branching panicles, are of a light pink 

 with a shade of lilac. It is hardier than its 

 closest ally, S. ciliata, blooms in March, and 

 should be sheltered against bleak winds. It is 

 suited for borders and rock-gardens. 



S. tenella. — A handsome plant, forming 

 tufts of delicate fine-leaved branches, 4 or 5 in. 

 high, which root as they grow. The flowers, 

 which appear in summer, are numerous, 

 whitish-yellow, and arranged in a loose panicle. 

 Similar in growth are S. aspera, S. bryoides, 

 S. sedoides, S. Segtiieri, S. stelleriana, 

 and .S'. tricuspidaia, all suitable for clothing 

 the bare parts of the rock-garden and slopes, 

 but require moist soil and cool positions. 

 Division in spring or the end of summer. 



S. umbrosa (London Pride). — This almost 

 universally - cultivated ])lant is abundant on the 

 mountains round Killarney, though it has long 

 been grown in our gardens. In old gardens it 

 is much usetl for edging, and, being a pretty 

 evergreen, should be freely used in the rough 

 parts of rock-gardens, the fringes of cascades, 

 etc. It is naturalised in several parts of 

 England, and grows freely in dwarf herbage, 

 or in rocky parts of woods. There are several 



varieties — for example, S. punctata, S. ser- 

 ratifolia, and Ogilvieana, which is a most 

 distinct form with pinkish blossoms in dense 

 dwarf panicles not over 6 in. high. S. 

 rotundifolia and similar kinds are related to 

 S. nmbrosa, but are unimportant. This plant 

 and its forms will thrive in the cold shade 

 of high walls where few other things will 

 live. 



There are other good kinds, but less im- 

 portant than the foregoing, such as S. imitata, 

 S. floridenta, very difficult to grow, the 

 London Pride-like .5". Gemn, the native 

 S. Hircuhis, and the small grey tufted 

 S. aspera. 



Giant Rockfoil Hybrids.— From all 

 the other Saxifrages these are known by 

 their massive size and breadth of leaf, 

 while as a general rule they are of ever- 

 green habit, and so are effective at all 

 times. Most of them are beautiful when 

 in blossom during the earlier months of 

 spring. Now and then, it is true, their 

 flowers become nipped in the bud by 

 spring frosts, but general results justify 

 their culture. Besides, it is so easy to pot 

 up the plants in autumn and give them 

 the shelter of a cold frame or an awning 

 of mats, smce plants so treated bloom 

 freely and form handsome plants for the 

 cool greenhouse or conservatory. 



One of the best for pot and tub culture 

 is M. crassifolia^ \\\ih. clusters of peach or 

 almond tinted blossoms on tall stalks, its 

 fragrance on a warm day being like that 

 of Hawthorn. Another fine variety is 

 cordifolia purpii7-ca., with pendulous bell- 

 shaped flowers on vivid red scapes 18 in. 

 or 2 ft. in height, the blossoms darker in 

 colour than those of crassifolia. 



Other very fine species are purpur- 

 ascetis, Stracheyi., cordifolia., and ciliata, 

 the last with large hairy leaves, but it 

 is the most tender of the whole group, 

 and its leaves succumb to the first sharp 

 frosts. Its flowers are whitish with a rosy- 

 red centre, and effective in warm sheltered 

 localities under cold frame culture in pots 

 or tubs, as above recommended. 



The following species and varieties are 

 given in books : Megasea cordifolia, -c. 

 purpurea, crassifolia, ligulata, I. ciliata, 

 purpurascens, Stracheyi, S. alba, S. Milesi, 

 Jiybrida splendens. 



Numerous hybrids have been reared in 

 this section of Saxifrage from time to time. 

 One of the first was the seedling from 

 cordifolia, now known as cordifolia pur- 

 purea, a noble plant at its best. Milesi \?, 

 dwarf growing, and nearly if not quite 

 deciduous, its presumed parentage being 

 cilia/a crossed with pollen of Stracheyi. 

 As seen in its early bud stage of blossom- 

 ing, it is a distinct and beautiful plant, 



