Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 



89 



Fig. 238. Primula rosea 



bright purple with a yellow centre, from the Rocky Mountains; rosea, 

 bright rose carmine (fig. 238); sikkimensis, a fine species with heads of 

 drooping yellow cowslip-like flowers. 



4. Primulas for a cool house or 

 cold frame: 



Floribunda, flowers golden yel- 

 low, very free, easily grown; mala- 

 coides, a new species, like Forbesi, 

 but more compact, easily raised from 

 seeds, flowers clear rose lilac, very 

 popular amongst florists; Forbesi, 

 loose habit, flowers rose lilac, very 

 free; kewensis, a fine hybrid between 

 fioribunda and verticillata, with 

 tiers of bright-yellow flowers. P. 

 Winteri, a new species with flat 

 rosettes of broad mealy leaves and 

 stumpy trusses of pale to deep-mauve 

 flowers. 



Prunella grandiflora. A pretty 

 European rock plant, 6-9 in. high, 

 with erect trusses of rich -violet 

 flowers from June to September. 



There is a white variety, and one (Webbiana) with bright, rosy -purple 

 blooms. They grow in ordinary garden soil, and are increased by division 

 and seeds. 



Pulmonaria. This genus has a few good plants, among the best being 

 angustifolia, 1 ft., with pinkish and blue flowers; arvensis, deep blue and 

 white; also officinalis, red turning to violet; saccharata, with spotted leaves 

 and red flowers. They are all about 1 ft. high, and flower from March 

 to July. Ordinary soil and shaded places are suitable, and they are 

 increased by division and seeds. 



Pyrethrum, Double- and Single-flowered. Few hardy border per- 

 ennials have enjoyed a greater run of popularity than the double- and single- 

 flowered varieties of Pyrethrum, roseum. Botanically, however, Pyrethrum 

 is now included under Chrysanthemum, where our old-time friend figures 

 as C. coccineum. The wild species the progenitor of the present lovely 

 race belongs to the Caucasus, where it is virtually and practically an 

 Alpine of a few inches in height. The numerous varieties which now 

 beautify our gardens have been evolved during the past fifty years or 

 so (fig. 239). 



The plants are valuable in the border by reason of their early summer 

 gaiety and profuse flowering, and alike valuable the single-flowered sorts 

 more particularly in the cut state by reason of brilliant or delicate colour- 

 ing and general comeliness. Because of their great length of stem and 

 graceful heads of flowers the florist decorator regards them as ideal; and 



