68 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



Good Varieties. 

 Solidago 



serotina (yellow), Sept.-Oct 5 ft. 



Shortii (yellow), Aug.-Oct 5 ft. 



Sedum spectabile : An extremely useful autumn-bloom- 

 ing hardy perennial. Its large heads of pink form a striking 

 bit of bright colour near the ground in the often sombre 

 autumn borders. It is also a rock plant. It enjoys good 

 rich soil, and soon develops into large clumps. Propagate 

 by division, or by " root cuttings " in the spring. Plant 

 November or March. It only grows i ft. high, but should 

 be in every border. 



Trollius : Little need be said about the Trollius or Globe 

 Flower, except that it will succeed in any good rich moist 

 soil, if the position be one of semi-shade. The flowers are 

 prized for cutting, and come in profusion. The plant 

 frequently flowers a second time, in September or October. 

 Propagate by division of the roots in November. Plant 

 in November or February. 



Good Varieties. 

 Trollius 



asiaticus (orange), May- June t . .' .,. 2 ft. 

 europaeus (orange yellow), May-July .. i^ ft. 



Valerian : This is everybody's perennial. Merely plant 

 it in good soil in October or March in a sunny border, and 

 leave it to do the rest. It will soon reach a height of 2-3 

 ft., and be covered with bloom all the summer. The more 

 you cut the more you get. My own plants never cease 

 blooming from June to October. There are scarlet, red, 

 and white varieties, but the scarlet is much the best. The 

 Valerian spreads rapidly, so must not be put near choice 

 things. Propagate by division in November. Remove 

 dead spikes of bloom or it will seed itself all over the ground. 



Verbascum : The popular name for this plant is 

 Mullein. The plants, which are not to every one's taste, 

 are to my mind some of the noblest of hardy flowers, and 

 the colours of the many named varieties are wonderful. 

 Although included here as hardy perennials, Verbascums 



