HERBACEOUS FLOWERING PLANTS IN POTS 4I 



It is better to grow them in this way than to keep them 

 in pots all the time. They can be propagated by division 

 in March. Seeds often take a year or more to germinate. 



Helxine solierolii. — A little mossy trailing evergreen 

 plant, with tiny pinkish flowers. It is often used for growing 

 around taller plants. If kept moist and not allowed to be 

 burnt up by hot sunshine, it quickly spreads, covering the 

 whole soil and creeping down the pots. 



Lobelia. — The dwarf varieties of Z. en'nus are largely 

 used for summer bedding and also for window-boxes, and 

 the looser growing varieties, such as Z. s/>ea'osa, for hanging 

 baskets. They are best propagated every year, either by 

 seed sown early in spring, by cuttings, or by division. There 

 are also some very fine tall species, notably Z. cardinalis 

 and Z. splendens, both scarlet. They can easily be increased 

 by cuttings or division of the crowns. They should be 

 planted in rich soil, and kept well supplied with water while 

 they are growing. In winter they should be fairly dry. 



Marguerite. — See Agathaea ccelestis (p. 34) and 

 Chrysanthemum frutescens (p. 38). 



Ophiopogon (Snake's Beard). — There are three species — 

 O. jabunm (with white or blue flowers), O. intermedium (lilac), 

 and O. japonicus (white). There is a variegated form of 

 each. They are sometimes called Japanese hyacinths, which 

 will indicate their habit of growth, though they are not 

 bulbous. In fairly light soil they are good pot-plants, and 

 the variegated forms with leaves striped yellow or white 

 are very effective even when there are no flowers. 



Polyanthus. — See Primula; also p. 85. 



Primula (Primrose). — The majority of primulas can 

 be grown in pots, but the most popular species are 

 P. vialacoides (mauve), P. kewensis (yellow), P. obconica, 

 P. sinensis, and P. stellata — the last three in many diff"erent 

 colours. The seed should be sown in sandy soil in March, 

 and the treatment should be the same as described for 

 auriculas. The watering at all stages requires care. The 

 soil should therefore be porous, but firm, and each pot 

 should contain a layer of broken crocks for drainage. If 



