76 THE BOOK OF CLIMBING PLANTS 



elegans, and Newellii, which do well in a warm green- 

 house, are among the best ; and the variety of elegans 

 called argentea, which has prettily variegated leaves, is 

 a choice climber. C. elegans is sometimes known in 

 gardens as Habrothamnus elegans. 



Kennedyas are valuable evergreen climbers for the 

 greenhouse, and thrive in good loam or peat. They 

 look well on the rafters and pillars, and stand a good 

 deal of cutting-in, a valuable character where plants are 

 grown below. The prettiest is probably prostrata 

 Marryattae, generally known as K. Marryattae. Seeds 

 form the easiest method of increase, and are sown in 

 heat in spring or summer, though some prefer cuttings 

 of side shoots with a heel struck in spring in gentle 

 heat. Zichyas closely resemble the Kennedyas and 

 should have the same treatment, as also do the Brachy- 

 semas. The Hoyas of a climbing habit are fine plants, 

 but none are more worthy of being cultivated than H. 

 carnosa, the Wax Flower, whose pinkish-white flowers 

 are so wax-like in their appearance. They all prefer 

 an intermediate house, and like a rather peaty soil, the 

 stronger ones doing best when planted out. Carnosa 

 and some others are best when grown on a wall. They 

 are propagated by cuttings of shoots of the previous 

 year, grafting, or layers, and flower on the young wood 

 and the old flower stalks. The spurs from the base of 

 the foot-stalks should not be removed. Physostelma 

 Wallichii requires the same cultivation, and resembles 

 the Hoyas. 



A favourite plant is Plumbago capensis, a deciduous 

 shrub, whose pale, charming blue flowers are so 

 ornamental in the greenhouse or conservatory. It 

 flowers on the young wood and should thus be cut 

 well back after blooming. Cuttings of the ripe or 

 nearly ripe wood in bottom heat strike readily. 



The pale-yellow Senecio macroglossus, which has 



