Perennials for a Thought-out Garden 227 



PINK, Miss SIMKINS (Dianthus byb. Miss Simkins). White. May, 

 June; 4 to 6 inches. This is by far the best and most popular of all 

 the hardy pinks. Large, double flowers, and grows in any soil. 

 Good for cutting; fragrant. Excellent for edging, the glaucous 

 foliage persisting all the season. There are numerous other pinks 

 referred to different species. (See OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS, p. 63). 



, SCOTCH, GARDEN, GRASSY (D. plumarius). Purple, magenta, 



white, pink, rose. May, June; i foot. Most fragrant of all hardy 

 pinks, and has most double varieties. Clove odour. Needs perfect 

 drainage. Best grown as edging for raised beds or borders. 



, FRINGED (D. superbus). Lilac. July; i foot. Natural 



complement of garden pink, blooming until autumn if not allowed 

 to seed. Mix plenty of sand and grit in soil for drainage. 



PLATYCODON. See BALLOON FLOWER. 



PLUMBAGO. See LEADWORT. 



*PLUME POPPY (Bocconia cor data). Pinkish white. July. Flowers 

 in fluffy masses. Leaves shaped like a fig s, but glaucous. Spreads 

 rapidly by suckers, and makes glorious masses. Sometimes becomes 

 a weed in rich, moist soil. 



POPPY, ICELAND (Papaver nudicaule). Yellow to orange red and white. 

 April to June, and August, September; 15 inches. Better than 

 the Alpine poppy for borders, growing well in moderately rich and 

 light loam. Give full sun. One of the prettiest, low-growing 

 perennials with the characteristic crinkled petals of the poppies. 

 Sow seeds in fall where plants are to remain. Often treated as an 



annual. , ORIENTAL (P. orientale). Scarlet, orange-red to deep 



pink and white. June, July; 3 feet. The most gorgeous red- 

 flowered hardy perennial, and should be planted sparingly against 

 green surroundings. Flowers 6 to more inches across, with black 

 centre. The thistle-like foliage disappears in late summer. Alto 

 gether one of the most effective and boldest of plants. Transplant 

 in August. Small pieces of root an inch long can be handled like 

 seeds, and will produce new plants. Usually slow to establish, and 

 should not be disturbed. Several named varieties, but the type 

 is the most gorgeous. 



PRICKLY PEAR (Opuntia vulgaris). Yellow. June to September; 

 10 inches. The only cactus that can be grown in the border. 

 Curiously jointed, flat, leaf-like stems, covered with spines in groups. 



