Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 



121 



on the plant, and in a dried state. Both green and variegated forms, 

 but especially the latter, are grown for bedding-out purposes. They are 

 raised from seeds sown in heat in March, the young plants being hardened 

 oft' and fit for sale in May and June. 



Zephyranthes (ZEPHYR FLOWER). A genus of Amaryllidaceous bulbous 

 plants from North America and the West Indies, not very extensively grown 

 outside botanic gardens. They require warm sheltered spots in favourable 

 places, and greenhouse protection in bleak localities. There are over thirty 

 species known, amongst the best being Andersoni, yellow and red; Ata- 

 masco, white; Candida, white (fig. 256): carinata, rose pink; rosea, bright 

 rose; Treatia?, white. 



Zinnia elegans. A fine Mexican half-hardy annual, 1-2 ft. high, with 

 ovate, stem-clasping leaves and 

 single and double flower heads 

 of various colours, such as scarlet, 

 vermilion, crimson, carmine, rose, 

 white, buff, yellow, &c. There 

 are now many fine garden va- 

 rieties, the result of careful selec- 

 tion and hybridization, the flower 

 heads in many cases being beauti- 



fully symmetrical in shape: The 

 dwarf Pompon or Lilliput varie- 

 ties grow only from 6-12 in. high, 

 and are very effective "bedders". 

 Z. Haageana has brilliant-orange 

 flower heads with single and 

 double forms. 



The Zinnias are raised from 

 seed sown in February and March Fig. 257. -zinnia 



in the same way as the Ten- week 



Stocks and China Asters, and are sold in shallow boxes or pots in April, 

 May, and June for bedding-out purposes. They are wonderfully effective 

 when grown in rich soil in sunny situations (fig. 257). 



