720 SEMPERVIVUM. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



SENECIO. 



S. ARACHNOIDEUM (Cobweb Houseleek). 

 One of the most singular of alpine plants, 

 with tiny rosettes of fleshy leaves covered 

 at the top with a thick white down, which 

 intertwines itself all over the leaves like 

 a spider's web. Invaluable for sunny 

 wall gardens and the hottest and driest of 

 rock garden chinks, where their true char- 

 acter is revealed. They are also most 

 effective in colonies, and should be freely 

 planted in vertical or horizontal positions 

 between rocks, where few plants can exist. 

 Admirable for pots on a sunny window-sill, 

 caring nothing for weeks of inattention. 

 Apart from the type gnaphalioides, Hookeri 

 and tomentosum are the most ornamental 

 and distinct. All are perfectly hardy. 

 Stiffish loam and old mortar rubble suits 

 them well. 



S. ARENARIUM (Sand Houseleek). 

 Grown in dense patches, this plant has 

 a lovely effect. It is much smaller than its 

 ally S. globiferum, and, unlike the latter 

 species, the leaves of the rosettes are not 

 incurved. The flowers are small, yellow, 

 pretty, and the leaves usually rich crimson. 

 5. Heufelli, a similar species, has in autumn 

 almost chocolate - crimson foliage, the 

 flowers being yellow. Other species of 

 similar character are S. hirtum, S. Neil- 

 reichi, and 5. soboliferum, which is often 

 confused with 5. globiferum. 



S. CALCAREUM (Glaucous Houseleek). 

 No finer Houseleek has ever been intro- 

 duced than this, often misnamed S. califor- 

 nicum. It is as easily grown and as hardy 

 as the common Houseleek, and thrives in 

 any soil. Planted singly, its rosettes are 

 sometimes nearly 5 inches across, the 

 leaves glaucous, and tipped at the points 

 with chocolate. It is deservedly popular 

 for edgings in the flower garden, and also 

 admirable for the rock garden. Other 

 cultivated kinds are S. glaucum, S. 

 Camollei, S. Lamottei, S. Verloti, and S. 

 juratense, and these are all desirable for 

 a full collection. 



S. FIMBRIATUM (Fringed Houseleek). 

 One of the most profusely blooming kinds, 

 the dark rose-coloured flowers appearing 

 in summer on stems 6 to 10 inches high. 

 The leaves, which are in small rosettes, 

 are smooth on both sides, strongly fringed, 

 and terminate in a long point, being 

 marked at the end with a large purple 

 spot. 5. Funcki, S. Powelli, S. barbatu- 

 lum, S. atlanticum, and S. piliferum are 

 similar. 



S. GLOBIFERUM (Hen-and-chicken House- 

 leek). This grows in firm dense tufts, its 

 little round offsets being so abundantly 

 thrown off that they are pushed clear 

 above the tufts, and lie on the surface in 

 small brownish - green balls. The small 

 leaves of the young rosettes all turn in- 

 ward, and appear of a purplish colour, but 

 in the full-grown rosettes are light green, 

 the tips of the under side being of a decided 

 chocolate -brown for nearly one- third of 



i their length ; the flowers are small and 

 i yellow. 



S. MONTANUM (Mountain Houseleek). A 



dark green kind, smaller than the common 



Houseleek, the leaves forming neat 



rosettes, from which spring dull rosy 



flowers in summer. It is suitable for 



edgings or for the rock garden, grows in 



any soil, and is easily propagated. Alps. 



; 5. assimile and 5. flagelliforme are similar. 



S. TECTORUM (Common Houseleek). 



I Though a native of rocky places in the 



i great mountain ranges of Europe and 



I Asia, the common Houseleek, having been 



! cultivated from time immemorial on 



housetops and on old walls, is well known 



to everybody. It may be used in flower 



gardening, but it would be better to select 



i some of the rarer species for edgings and 



i other purposes. 



S. TRISTE. Distinct from other Housc- 



j leeks, as its rosettes of leaves are of a 



i deep dull red, which makes it a handsome 



plant. It is about the size of 5. tectorum, 



and in light warm soil is quite as vigorous 



and rapid a grower. Its singular colour 



j makes it a valuable contrast to other 



| plants, but at present it is not much 



\ known. S. rubicundum, of deep crimson 



hue, is also worth a place. 



SENECIO (Groundsel}. An immense 



genus of over a thousand described 



species, most of them worthless weeds, 



but with a few plants of value. They 



are exceedingly variable in habit, 



including annuals and herbaceous 



perennials, shrubby plants and low 



trees, climbers, and even succulents, 



j but there is much sameness in the 



flowers, which are yellow or orange in 



most kinds, though sometimes purple 



or white. They are among the most 



easily grown of plants, and readily 



increased from seeds, cuttings, division, 



or root - cuttings. The silvery and 



! down-covered kinds do best in dry 



corners and fully exposed, while others, 



i such as the large-leaved, tall-growing 



| herbs, thrive in rich moist soil at the 



| waterside, with some shelter from 



I wind. The following are the best of 



! the few cultivated kinds : 



S. ADONIDIFOLIUS. A neat hardy peren- 

 nial, common in France and distinct from 

 other wild kinds of Europe. The rigidly 

 erect stems measure 2 to 3 feet, with 

 glossy and finely - cut foliage and bright 

 1 orange - yellow flowers in July. As it 

 spreads from the root, its true place is 

 the rougher part of the garden, where it 

 is well worth a place. 



S. ARTEMISI^EFOLIUS. A perennial 

 with broad clusters of showy yellow 

 flowers on stems of 12 to 18 inches high. 

 The deep green leaves are finely cut and 

 give a feathery appearance. S. abrotani- 



