494 HKLIANTHUS. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. HELICHRYSUM. 



H. MULTIFLORUS. It is so very distinct 

 from all the other species so well known 

 in gardens, and such a good all-round 

 plant, that it well deserves a place. It 

 rarely exceeds 3 to 5 feet in height, pro- 

 ducing numerous large fine rich yellow 

 flowers, remaining a considerable time in 

 good form. The var. maximus has larger 



Double Perennial Sunflower. 



flowers with more pointed rays, and the 

 varieties plenus and Soleil d'Or are both 

 very desirable double-flowered forms. 

 From the garden standpoint, the varieties 

 of H. multiflorus rank high, and should be 

 grown by all. 



H. ORGYALIS, though a small-flowered 

 plant, is yet one of the best for the pic- 

 turesque garden. It is one of the late- 

 flowering species, and is often damaged 

 by early frosts. It grows from 6 to 10 feet 

 high, having numerous linear leaves and 

 bunches of deep golden-yellow flowers. 

 It is a native of dry plains of Nebraska 

 and Texas. 



H. RIGIDUS (Primrose Sunflower). This 

 distinct, though variable, species is per- 

 haps the best known of all the Perennial 

 Sunflowers. It grows from 4 to 5 feet in 

 height, with a rough stem, the upper 

 leaves always alternate, distinctly three- 

 nerved and veined. The flowers, bright 

 yellow and very showy, are produced very 

 freely. It is a native of the plains and 

 prairies of Georgia and Texas. H. r. Miss 

 Mellish is one of the best varieties. 



H. SPARSIFOLIUS. A giant among per- 

 ennial kinds, and a late-flowering sort to 

 boot. Flowers golden-yellow. October- 

 November. 



H. TOMENTOSUS. A beautiful and dis- 

 tinct species of bushy habit, having silvery 

 downy foliage. The golden-orange flowers 

 are produced freely in September. Height, 

 4 feet. 



The larger kinds of annual Sun- 

 flowers are noble plants, requiring 

 plenty of space, a sheltered position, 

 and a good background. They are 

 easily raised from seed, which may be 

 sown in pans in early March or in the 

 open air in April, where they are 

 intended to flower, and thinned out to 

 a yard apart. 



H. ANNUUS (Common Sunflower). 

 Although often regarded only as a cot- 

 tagers' flower, the Annual Sunflower is 

 one of the noblest plants we have, and 

 one of the most effective for various 

 positions. In order to dispense with 

 support, it should be planted in a sheltered 

 place, as among tall shrubs. Here it 

 assumes a dense branching tree-like habit, 

 and often produces flowers each over a 

 foot in diameter. It requires a strong 

 rich soil. There are many varieties, the 

 most notable being one called calif ornicus, 

 a more robust and darker-flowered form. 

 H. Dammanni and H. D. var. sulphureus 

 are said to be garden hybrids between 

 H. argophyllus and H. annuus. H. 

 cucumerifolius , the Miniature Sunflower, 

 is a good annual, growing from 2 to 3 feet 

 high, usually with purple mottling on the 

 stems, the leaves thin, and bright apple- 

 green. The stems are much branched, 

 and when allowed plenty of room the 

 plants form perfect symmetrical speci- 

 mens. The flowers are yellow, about 



3 inches in diameter, nicely set off with 

 the almost black disc. Sandy soils in 

 woods from Texas westwards. 



H. EXILIS. A very slender species, 

 rarely more than a couple of feet in height, 

 with lance-shaped leaves and yellow 

 flowers, about 2 inches in diameter. N. 

 California. 



H. PETIOLARIS. A fine kind rarely seen 

 in gardens, though from its neat habit and 

 profusion of flowers it should be a welcome 

 addition to the mixed border. It grows 

 about a yard high, loosely branched, the 

 stem as well as the leaves being covered 

 with stiff hairs ; flowers yellow, 3 to 



4 inches in diameter. The variety cartes- 

 cens is covered with white pubescence. 

 Texas. 



H. SCABERRIMUS. A very distinct 

 plant with large deep yellow flowers, stout 

 branching stems, and broad, oval, coarsely- 

 toothed leaves. California. 



HELICHRYSUM (Everlasting 

 Flower}. Composites, mostly natives 

 of the Cape of Good Hope, of which a 

 few arje cultivated. The most impor- 

 tant garden plants are H. macranthum 



