PART IT.] 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



313 



and so placed that they will not be 

 overrun. 



Sedum acre (Stonecrop). Growing on 

 walls, thatched houses, rocks, and sandy 

 places in almost all parts of Britain, this 

 little plant, with its small, thick, bright 

 green leaves and brilliant yellow flowers, is 

 as well known as the common Houseleek. 

 Sheets of it in bloom look gay, and it may 

 well be used with dwarf alpine plants in 

 forming carpets of living mosaic- work in 

 gardens. The fact that it runs wild on 

 comparatively new brick walls near 

 London does away with the necessity of 

 speaking of its cultivation or propagation. 

 Tli ere is a variegated or yellow - tipped 

 variety, S. acre variegatum ; the tips of the 

 shoots of this become of a yellow hue in 

 early spring, so that the tufts look showy 

 at that season. 



S. album (White Stonecrop). A British 

 plant, with crowded fleshy leaves of a 

 brownish green, and in summer a pro- 

 fusion of white or pinkish flowers in 

 elegant corymbs. Like the common 

 Stonecrop, this occurs on old roofs and 

 rocky places in many parts of Europe, 

 and may be cultivated with the same 

 facility. It is worthy of a place on walls 

 or ruins, in places where it does not occur 

 naturally, and also on the margins of the 

 pathways or the less important surfaces of 

 the rock-garden. 



S. anacampseros (Evergreen Orpine). 

 A species easily recognised by its very 

 obtuse and entire glaucous leaves, closely 

 arranged in pyramidal rosettes on the 

 prostrate branches that do not flower. 

 The rose-coloured flowers are in corymbs, 

 not very ornamental, but the distinct 

 aspect of the plant will secure it a place 

 OH the rock-garden, or among very dwarf 

 border - plants. A native of the Alps, 

 Pyrenees, and mountains of Dauphiny, 

 flowering in summer, easily propagated by 

 division, and thriving in any soil. 



S. brevifolium (Mealy Stonecrop). One 

 of the most fragile of alpine plants, with 

 pinkish, mealy leaves. A native of the 

 Southern Pyrenees and Corsica, in dry 

 places, it is somewhat too delicate for 

 general planting in the open air ; but it 

 may be grown on sunny rocks. S. farino- 



sum resembles this, but, so far as my 

 experience goes, it is tender. 



Sedum dasyphyllum (Stonecrop). A 

 pretty species, glaucous, or bluish; its 

 leaves smooth, very thick and fat, and 

 very densely packed ; flowers of a dull 

 white, tinged with rose, the neat habit of 

 the plant, when not in flower, will always 

 make it a favourite in collections of dwarf 

 plants. It occurs abundantly on rocks, 

 old walls, and humid stony places, in 

 Southern and South- Western Europe, and 

 is found in some places in the south of 

 England. Although hardy on walls and 

 rocks, it has not the vigour and constitu- 

 tion of many of the other Stonecrops, and 

 it is desirable to establish it on an old 

 wall or dry stony part of the rock-garden, 

 so as to secure a stock in case the plant 

 perishes in winter on low ground. 



S. Ewersii (Ewers's Stonecrop). A dis- 

 tinct, and diminutive species, with smooth, 

 broad leaves, and purplish flowers in 

 corymbs, the whole plant of a pleasing sil- 

 very hue and rather delicate appearance, 

 but hardy, easily increased by division, 

 and flowering in summer. Altai Moun- 

 tains ; of easy culture and increase by 

 division, at any season. 



S. glaucum (Glaucous Stonecrop). A 

 minute kind, greyish, forming dense 

 spreading tufts, densely clothed with fat 

 leaves and rather inconspicuous flowers. 

 The neat habit of the plant has made it 

 popular in gardens of late years as a 

 minute surfacing plant. On the rock- 

 garden it may be used in any spot that is 

 to spare, either to form a turf under other 

 plants or for its own sake. Various other 

 Sedums are very nearly allied to this, and 

 all are probably but forms of one kind. 

 Hungary. 



S. kamtschaticum (Orange Stonecrop). 

 A broad-leaved kind, with dark orange- 

 yellow flowers. It is a prostrate plant, 

 hardy, succeeding in almost any soil, and 

 flowering in summer. Highly suitable 

 for the rougher parts of the rock-garden, 

 where it will take care of itself. 



S. populifolium (Shrubby Stonecrop). 

 Distinct from all its race, and forming a 

 small, much-branched shrub, from 6 to 

 10 inches high, with flat leaves, and 

 whitish flowers with red anthers. Not 



