Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 



Phygfelius capensis. A fine South African perennial, 3 ft. or more 

 high, with pyramidal spikes of drooping tubular scarlet flowers. In the 

 mildest parts of the kingdom it forms a bush or shrub. Fresh stock is 

 secured from seeds, cuttings, and by division. 



Physalis. For many years P. Alkekengi, a European perennial, had 

 been grown for its red, inflated calices, but it has been completely driven 

 out by the Japanese P. Francheti, 

 the calices of which are two or 

 three times larger, and of a bright 

 orange-scarlet colour, enclosing a 

 large cherry-like fruit. They are 

 chiefly valuable for winter sale and 

 decoration. The plants grow in 

 any soil, but produce the finest 

 colour in open, sunny spots. Easily 

 raised from seeds or by division; 

 the plants are popularly known as 

 "Chinese Lanterns" (fig. 237). 



Phyteuma (HORNED RAMPION). 

 A genus of rock and border 

 plants requiring a mixture of 

 sandy loam and peat or leaf mould, 

 and best increased from seeds. The 

 best kinds are: anthericoides, 9 in., 

 slaty blue; comosum, 3-6 in., blue; 

 Sheuchzeri, 1 ft., deep-blue round 

 heads; spicatum, 1-3 ft., with white, 

 cream, and blue varieties. The 

 flowering period is from June to 

 August. 



Platystemon californicus. A pretty Californian Poppywort, 1 ft. 

 high, with narrow leaves and long-stalked yellow flowers. It is treated 

 as a hardy or half-hardy annual. 



Podophyllum Emodi. A curious Himalayan perennial, 6-12 in. high, 

 with deeply lobed leaves marbled with purple, and white flowers followed 

 by bright coral-red berries. Other kinds are peltatum, 6-12 in., with 

 large poisonous leaves; and pleianthum, 1-2 ft., from China. They like 

 moist peaty soil and sheltered spots, and are best raised from seeds. 



Polemonium coeruleum (JACOB'S LADDER). An easily grown hardy 

 herbaceous perennial, with 6-12 pairs of ovate leaflets that give a Fern-like 

 aspect to the plant. The blue or white flowers appear in summer. There 

 are several varieties, one dissectum, with finely divided leaves, and another 

 variegatum has beautifully variegated leaves. The trade done is chiefly 

 in the plants, and by nurserymen rather than market growers. 



Polyanthus (Primula variabilis). The Polyanthus as we know it 

 to-day in primrose and cream and white, sulphur and gold and orange, 



Fig. 237. -Physalis Franchetti 



