Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 



67 



Fig. 219. Linum grandiflolum 



yellow, with a charming regular- 

 flowered variety called peloria. 

 All kinds grow in any good gritty 

 soil, and are increased by seeds 

 and division. There are several 

 annual species also. 



Linum (FLAX). There are 

 several species all easily grown 

 in ordinary garden soil, in open 

 sunny spots. Amongst the best- 

 known kinds are the following: 

 alpinuwir'L ft., blue; flavum, 1 ft., 

 yellow; grandiflorum (fig. 219), 

 1-1 J ft., a splendid rose-red annual 

 with many forms; narbonense, 

 2 ft., sky blue veined with violet; 

 perenne, 1J ft., bright blue with 



pink and white varieties; and usitatissimum, 1J ft, the common flax of 

 commerce, with blue flowers. These are all 

 raised from seeds sown in the open or under 

 glass in spring. L. arboreum is a shrubby 

 plant, 1 1J ft. high, with yellow flowers in 

 summer. 



Lithospermum prostatum. This is the 

 best known of many species. It is a trailing 

 hairy perennial about 4 in. high, with linear 

 leaves and deep -blue flowers. The variety 

 " Heavenly Blue " is much deeper in colour. 

 Other kinds are: canescens, 9 in., yellow: Gas- 

 toni, 1 ft., sky blue with a white eye; grami- 

 nifolium, 1 ft., with long grass-like leaves and 

 blue flowers; petrceum (now known as Moltkia), 

 9 in., pinkish purple to violet blue: purpureo- 

 coeruleum, 1 ft., deep purple; and rosmarini- 

 folium, 9 in., a small bushy plant with Rose- 

 mary-like leaves and bright -blue flowers. 

 These plants are excellent for the rock garden, 

 and grow in ordinary good soil. They are 

 increased from seeds, cuttings in cold frames, 

 and by division of the roots. 



Lobelia. The best hardy herbaceous per- 

 ennial Lobelias are L. cardinalis and L. fulgens 

 (fig. 220), plants, 1-3 ft. high, with erect dark- 

 coloured stems, lance-shaped leaves, and deep- 

 scarlet spikes of bloom from June to September. 

 Varieties of fulgens known as " Firefly " and " Queen Victoria", both about 



Fig. 220. Lobelia fulgens 



