Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 



99 



generally cultivated. They are readily propagated by separating the young 

 plants or offsets from the old ones, and replanting in autumn or spring. 

 Senecio. The fact that such a troublesome weed as the Common 

 Groundsel (S. vulgaris) belongs to this genus is not in its favour. Still 

 there are several kinds so free in growth and bold in habit, and so useful 

 for rough soils, that they might be grown in small quantities. The best of 

 these coarse-growing kinds are S. Doria, S. macrophyllus, and S. sarra- 

 cenicus, all with yellow flower heads; and S. sagittifolius, which is creamy 

 white. S. clivorum has large leaves and deep orange-yellow flower heads, 

 and is well adapted for marshy spots, or on the banks of streams, &c. 

 S. pulcher, with beautiful rose-purple flower heads, is a charming perennial, 

 2-3 ft. high, from Buenos Ayres, but it is rather difficult to grow well, and 

 is not hardy in all parts. S. elegans is a fine South African annual 1-2 ft. 

 high, with purple heads having yellow centres; but there are many garden 

 forms with colours varying from white to lilac, rose, crimson, purple, 

 magenta, &c. They are raised from seeds like the China Asters. 



Shortia galacifolia (fig. 244). A charming North American rock plant, 



3-6 in. high, having roundish 

 leaves becoming purple red in 

 winter, and with funnel-shaped 

 flowers in March and April, 

 white shading into rose. The 

 Japanese S. uniflora has soft 

 pink flowers. Both kinds like 

 sandy peat and loam, and are 

 increased by careful division 

 and seeds. 



Sidalcea. A small genus of 

 North American Mallowworts, 

 of which the best known are S. 

 malvceflora (Callirhoe spicata), 

 2 3 ft. high, with lobed leaves 

 and erect spikes of lilac or pale- 

 rose flowers 2 in. across. The 

 variety Listeri, with fringed 



pink flowers, is a better plant. S. Candida, 2-3 ft. high, has white flowers. 

 Both species are perennial, but may be raised from seeds, and treated as 

 hardy or half-hardy annuals. 



Silene pendula. This is a popular hardy annual, 6-12 in. high, having 

 single- and double-flowered varieties, useful for carpeting the ground over 

 bulbous plants or beneath tall-stemmed kinds. The colours vary from 

 white to rose, crimson, lilac, and purple, and are very effective, as the 

 flowers are borne in great profusion, the double-flowered forms being very 

 fine. The plants are sold in pots or boxes in spring and autumn, the com- 

 pacta varieties being most popular. 



Amongst the perennial species of Silene mention may be made of 



Fig. 244. Shortia galacifolia 



