38 Commercial Gardening 



succeed quite well in ordinarily well-cultivated soil, and are not averse to 

 moisture. Much shade, however, is inimical to their wellbeing. For 

 market pot work the plants should be lifted and potted in September, 

 and accorded cold-frame treatment. [E. H. j.] 



Draeoeephalum. These handsome border plants, known as "Dragon's 

 Heads", flourish in any ordinary soil in semi-shaded situations. They 

 flower from May to August and sell in the autumn or spring, but the trade 

 is restricted. The best kinds are baikalensis, 1-1 J ft., blue; grandiflorum 

 (or altaiense), 1 ft., blue; imberbe, 6 in., lilac blue; Ruprechti, 1 ft, light 

 blue or rose purple; Ruyschianum, 1-1 J ft., purple blue, and its variety 

 japonicum, violet blue, spotted; peregrinum, 1 ft., blue, nearly always in 

 flower, prostrate in habit; speciosum, 1 ft., purple blue, spotted with lilac; 

 virginianum, 5 ft., lilac purple, with a lovely white form alba grandiflora', 

 imbricata, 3-6 ft., pinkish purple, spotted. The last two kinds are often 



known as Physostegia. All are increased by 

 division in early autumn or spring, and by 

 seeds. 



Echinacea (Rudbeckia) purpurea (fig. 

 196). A fine North American hardy her- 

 baceous perennial about 3-4 ft. high, with 

 ovate lance-shaped leaves, and deep rose- 

 purple flower heads about 4 in. across in late 

 summer. This plant may be increased by 

 division of the short thickish rhizomes in 

 spring or in autumn after flowering. 



Echinops Ritro. This is the common 



Fig. 196. Echinacea (Rudbeckia) * 



purpurea " Globe Thistle ", 3-5 ft. high, with coarse 



prickly thistle-like leaves, and roundish steely- 

 blue flower heads in summer. Other species are banaticus (or ruthen- 

 icus), humilis, and sphcerocephalus, the latter having silvery leaves and 

 whitish flower heads. They are all increased by division, and from seeds 

 sown in spring in the open or under glass. The trade is restricted to 

 nurserymen, and is not very large. 



Elymus arenarius (LYME GRASS). An ornamental grass, 3-6 ft. high, 

 useful for planting in beds or borders or intermixed with other plants of 

 a bushier and bolder nature. Easily increased by division or from seeds. 

 There are several other species, but they are scarcely known. Good clumps 

 sell from 3d. to 6d. each, but the trade is very limited. 



Eomecon chionantha. A handsome Chinese perennial with thickish 

 roots, pale-green roundish leaves, and pure-white flowers in summer with 

 a cluster of orange stamens in the centre. A somewhat tender plant, 

 requiring warm sunny positions and protection in winter. Increased by 

 division in spring. 



Epilobium (WILLOW HERB). Of the fifty species known, E. angusti- 

 folium is probably the best. It grows 36 ft. high, has willow-like leaves 

 and spikes of crimson flowers; but there is also a very attractive white- 



