SAXIFRAGA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



SAXIFRAGA. 



709 



at other seasons plainly a very different 

 plant. It is without doubt the most 

 remarkable of the red-flowered Rockfoils, 

 and an attractive garden plant withal. It 

 forms rosettes of silvery leaves 2 to 3 inches 

 across, from which issue leafy, glandular, 

 brilliant-coloured stems terminated by a 

 nodding inflorescence of reddish-crimson 

 flowers. No species of the genus is of 

 greater ornament or more worthy of 

 specialisation by the gardener. Quite 

 happy in gritty loam in sunny well- 

 drained spots. Colonies of it in the rock 

 garden are very effective. Easily raised 

 from seeds, which are freely produced in 

 those instances where artificial pollination 

 is resorted to. The plants should be 

 given dry conditions meanwhile. Mace- 

 donia. 



S. HAAGEI. Said to be a hybrid of 

 sancta and Ferdinandi Coburgi, this is 

 unique among golden-flowered Saxifrages, 

 and the most prodigal to bloom of the 

 whole race. Of carpeting habit and the 

 easiest culture, revelling in cool loamy 

 soil with full exposure, it is a plant of 

 indescribable beauty and utility. Flowers 

 in March and April. 



S. HYPNOIDES (Mossy Rockfoil). A very 

 variable plant as regards stem, leaves, and 

 flowers, but usually forms mossy tufts of 

 the freshest green, and no plant is more 

 useful for carpets in winter. For this 

 reason it is suited for the low rocky bor- 

 ders of town and villa gardens, thriving in 

 the rock garden or on level ground, either 

 in half-shady positions or fully exposed. 

 When exposed it forms the fullest tufts, 

 flowering profusely in early summer. 

 Nothing can be easier to grow or to increase 

 by division. Under this species may be 

 grouped 5. hirta, S. affinis, S. incurvifolia, 

 S. platypetala, S. decipiens, and several 

 others, all showing differences which some 

 think sufficient to mark them as species. 

 They are as free as 5. hypnoides, and 

 appear to suffer only from drought or 

 drying winds. 



S. IRVINGI. A pretty hybrid kind which 

 originated at Kew in 1909, 5. burseriana 

 macrantha and 5. Frederici-Augusti being 

 the parents. In effect it is a tiny pale 

 pink form of the first-named parent, the 

 whole plant less than 2 inches high. It 

 flowers with remarkable freedom, and has 

 already become popular. S. Kewensis is 

 of the same parentage and appeared at 

 the same time, the hybrid leaning strongly 

 to the red-flowered parent^a rather inter- 

 esting fact. Both are of easy cultivation 

 in gritty loam. 



S. JUNIPERIFOLIA (Juniper Rockfoil). 

 From the Caucasus, and probably the 

 shyest flowering member of the genus. 

 Leaves deep green, spiny tipped, the 

 rosettes arranged in cushion-like tufts, 

 not in mat-like masses, as in 5. sancta, 

 with which it is often confused. The 

 flowers are yellow and are produced in- 



clusters on inch-high stems in spring. 

 The plant grows well in strong cool loam, 

 and may be increased by division or by 

 cuttings. 



S. LIGULATA (Nepaul Rockfoil). This 

 has broadly obovate leaves, bearing flowers 

 in small cymose panicles. The flowers 

 are white, with a rosy tint towards the 

 margin of the petals and crimson anthers. 

 Its early growth renders it tender, and 

 repeated injury is fatal. It should there- 

 fore have shelter and a little shade. The 

 varieties rubra and speciosa, particularly 

 the latter, are finer than the type, and 

 thysanoides bears pale flowers. 5. ligulata 

 may be associated with others of the 

 Megasea section. 



S. LINGULATA. A charming plant from 

 the Maritime Alps, characterised by very 

 long linear leaves with a conspicuously 

 encrusted margin. The flowers are of the 

 purest white, and are produced in elegant 

 sprays in May and June. 5. /. lantoscana 

 is a form of this species, easily distinguished 

 by its short, blunt, spathulate leaves and 

 arching racemes of white flowers, the latter 

 closely arranged on the upper surface of 

 the inflorescence. The twain are most 

 desirable and of the highest ornament. 

 Loamy soil with a third old mortar rubble 

 or pounded brick suits them well. Divi- 

 sion and seed. 



S. LONGIFOLIA. This Pyrenean plant 

 has single rosettes often 6, 7, and 8 inches 

 in diameter. Its greyish leathery leaves 

 are beautifully dotted with white on the 

 margins, and in early summer it pushes 

 up fox-brushlike columns of white flowers 

 from i to 2 feet long, the stems covered 

 with short, stiff, gland-tipped hairs. It 

 is perfectly hardy, and may be grown in 

 various ways. In some perpendicular 

 chink of a rock garden, where it can root 

 deeply, it is very striking when the long 

 outer leaves of the rosette spread away 

 from the densely-packed centre. It may 

 also be grown on the face of an old wall 

 by carefully packing a small plant of it 

 into a chink with a little soil. The stiff 

 leaves will, when they roll out, adhere 

 firmly to the wall in the form of a large 

 silver star. 5. longifolia will thrive on a 

 raised bed or border if surrounded by a 

 few stones to prevent evaporation and 

 injury. Increase is by seeds, which 

 should be sown as soon as ripe. As the 

 species perishes after flowering, it is 

 necessary to raise it from seeds periodi- 

 cally. 



S. MAWEANA. A handsome species of 

 the ccBspitosa section, and larger than any 

 other in foliage and flowers. The latter, 

 about the size of a shilling, form dense 

 white masses in early summer. After 

 flowering this species forms buds on the 

 stems, which remain dormant till the 

 following spring. Though rare it is of 

 easy culture. Similar, but finer, is S 

 Wallacei, which is far more robust, earlier, 



