736 STACHYURUS. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. STEIRONEMA. 



from Mexico, it is not hardy every- 

 where. S. grandiflora, from Asia 

 Minor and Siberia, is a neat downy 

 plant with showy spikes of reddish- 

 purple or rosy flowers from May on- 

 wards, sometimes used in the rougher 

 parts of the rock garden. Division. 



STACHYURUS PRCE COX. Chinese 

 shrubs of some beauty. They are 

 quite hardy and flower very early, 

 which is no great gain in our country. 



STAPHYLEA (Bladder Nut). Of 

 the older kinds only 5. colchica is 

 important, this being a beautiful 

 shrub with pinnate leaves and large 



the finest of all, with wide-spreading 

 flower-sterns and a profusion of small 

 purplish-blue flowers ; and S. tatarica, 

 a dwarfer species, with distinct red 

 flowers. The smaller species, such as 

 5. minuta, S. minuti flora, S. caspia, 

 S. eximia, are good rock plants. 

 Among the half-hardy annuals and 

 biennials the best are : 5. Bonditelli 

 (yellow), a biennial if protected in 

 winter ; S. spicata, with spikes of 

 small rosy flowers ; Thouini (violet), 

 i very free flowering ; and sirniata 

 I (purple and white), pretty, and easy 

 | to grow. 



Spir&a Lindleyana. 



terminal clusters of snow-white flowers 

 in early summer. It is hardy, grows 

 well in any good soil, preferring partial 

 shade, and is commonly forced into 

 flower for the greenhouse in early 

 spring. Increase by suckers, layers, 

 and ripe autumn cuttings rooted under 

 a handlight in sandy soil. S. Caucasus. 



STATICE (Sea Lavender) .Plants 

 of the Leadwort or Plumbago family, 

 chiefly natives of shore and mountain 

 districts. The larger species require 

 least care when in an open place, while 

 some of them are happy on the rock 

 garden. They are deep-rooting and 

 dislike disturbance, taking some while 

 to regain strength. The best of the 

 larger kinds are S. Limonium, of which 

 there are several varieties ; S. latifolia, 



STAUNTGNIA. 5. hexaphylla is a 

 fine evergreen twining pinnate-leaved 

 shrub from China, hardy enough in the 

 warmer parts of these islands for walls. 

 Its small flowers are whitish, fragrant, 

 and form in early summer. Occasion- 

 ally these are succeeded by large 

 reddish-purple oval fruits, filled with 

 soft juicy pulp. It must have a 

 sheltered wall, but in a place not too 

 dry and sunny, or the leaves turn a 

 sickly yellow. 



STEIRONEMA. Showy perennials 

 of the Primrose order from N. America, 

 nearly allied to Loosestrife, and thriv- 

 ing under the same conditions. Two 

 kinds are useful at the waterside or in 

 the bog garden, 5. ciliata with leafy 

 stems i to 3 feet high, bearing showy 



