558 



LYCHNIS. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



LYCHNIS. 



showy, and never failing in any soil to 

 produce a fine crop of bloom in early 

 summer. 



There are two double-red varieties of 

 L. Flos-cuculi (Ragged Robin), pretty 

 border plants. Division. 



Lupinuspolyphyllus. 



L. GRANDIFLORA. A handsome plant, 

 typical of the numerous varieties now in 

 cultivation under the names of Bungeana, 

 and others which grow i to 2 feet high, 

 and bear flowers in a cluster of a dozen or 

 so, each flower being i to 2 inches across, 

 fringed at the edges, and varying from 

 vivid scarlet to deep crimson, and from 

 pink to white. Exposed to strong sun the 



colour of the flowers soon fades, but in a 

 partially-shaded place the flowers retain 

 their true colour for a considerable time. 

 They are good border flowers, thriving in 

 warm sheltered situations in light soil, for 

 though quite hardy they are apt to suffer 

 from moisture and cold. Plant in deep 

 sandy well-drained soil in a sunny position. 

 All the varieties may be raised by seeds. 

 L. fulgens, a Siberian plant, is similar to 

 the forms of L. grandi flora. 



L. HAAGEANA. Reputed a hybrid be- 

 tween L. fulgens and L. coronata or grandi - 

 flora, it is one of the best of this valuable 

 group of border plants, in itself extremely 

 variable, affording nearly every shade of 

 colour, from the brightest scarlet to white. 

 The flowers are large, of good substance, 

 and produced in- the greatest profusion all 

 through the summer months ; indeed, as 

 a permanent " bedder " we have rarely 

 seen its equal. Where it can be managed, 

 a partially shady spot should be chosen 

 for the most brilliantly coloured forms, as 

 the flowers fade somewhat when exposed 

 to bright sunshine. The colours seem 

 fixed, and we have now good distinct 

 scarlet, crimson, pink, and salmon shades, 

 all worthy of attention. The great enemy 

 of this and other tuberous rooted sorts, 

 e.g., grandiflora and others, is the slug in 

 winter, the pest destroying the crowns and 

 roots. They should be raised periodically 

 from seeds, which are freely produced, the 

 seedlings flowering in the second year. 

 They dislike heavy and cold retentive soils, 

 and should be given rich light sandy soil 

 and a not too sunny aspect. L. Ark- 

 wrighti, boomed as a novelty, of late 

 appears to be but a vigorous counterpart 

 of this old and well-tried plant. 



L. LAGASC-3E. A lovely dwarf alpine 

 plant, with many bright rose-coloured 

 flowers, about f inch across. It is suited 

 for adorning fissures on the exposed faces 

 of rocks associated with the smallest alpine 

 plants. It is easily cultivated in the rock 

 garden in any free, sandy, or gritty soil. 

 An exposed position should be preferred, 

 as the plant is very free in growth. The 

 flowers appear in early summer, and if not 

 weakened by shade, or by being placed in 

 frames, are in fine condition when the 

 plant is about 3 inches high. Seed. Syn. 

 Petrocoptis Lagasca. 



L. VISCARIA (German Catchfly). A 

 British plant, with long grass-like leaves, 

 bearing in June many showy panicles of 

 rosy-red flowers, on stems 10 to nearly 

 1 8 inches high. The bright-coloured 

 variety called splendens is the most worthy 

 of cultivation. L. V. alba, a charming 

 white variety, is worthy of a place in 

 gardens, as also is the double variety, 

 which has rocket-like blooms. They are 

 excellent for the rougher parts of the rock 

 garden, and as border plants on dry soils. 

 The double variety is used with good 

 effect as an edging plant about Paris. 



