HELICHRYSUM. 



246 HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. 



Among the perennial varieties that 

 known as Harpalium rigidum^ which is 

 about 2\ inches in height and has a beauti- 

 ful flower with a black disc richly studded 



SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS). 



with yellow stamens and surrounded with 

 petals of a brilliant yellow, is strongly 

 recommended. The 'harpalium is now 

 included among the sunflowers : hence its 

 mention here. 



(nat. ord. Compos'itse). 

 These beautiful plants, mostly half-hardy 

 or hardy herbaceous perennials and hardy 

 annuals are commonly known as " ever- 

 lastings" ; they are exceedingly effective in 

 mixed flower-borders. The flowers, if cut 

 when young, make pretty winter bouquets. 

 There are many varieties, but Helichrysum 

 bracteatum and those akin to it, namely, 

 H. b. aureum, H. b. bicolor^ H. b. compo- 

 situm, H. b. macranthum, and H. b. ni- 

 beum, are all equally beautiful, and suitable 

 alike for borders or as pot plants for in- 

 door decoration. These annuals are raised 

 from seed sown in gentle heat in March 

 and transplanted to the open borders early 

 in April. The perennials are propagated 

 by cuttings planted in April, also in gentle 

 heat. These should be kept close. 



Heliotro'pium (nat. ord. Boragin- 



a'cese). 



The heliotropiums or heliotropes are 

 profuse-flowering and deliciously fragrant 

 plants, valuable for bedding, ribboning, 

 rustic baskets, and pot-culture. Seeds sown 

 in spring make fine plants for summer and 

 autumn decoration ; they succeed in light 

 rich soil. The best plants are .obtained 

 from cuttings in the same way as verbenas 

 and bedding calceolarias. All the helio- 

 tropes are very sensitive of frost. " Cherry 

 Pie " is a popular name for the heliotrope, 

 from the supposed resemblance of its odour 

 to that of the pie named. 



Helleborus Niger, or Black Hel- 

 lebore. See Christmas Rose. 



Herbaceous Perennials. 



Herbaceous plants are very beautiful, 

 and a good collection of them makes a very 

 fine display in any garden. At all events, 

 it maybe said that this class of plants, with 



HARPALIUM RIGIDUM (see HELIANTHUS). 



hardy bulbs, is best suited for gardeners 

 who are possessed of but little experience, 

 and who, for lack of time or other reasons, 

 cannot pay so much attention to horticul- 

 ture as they might otherwise wish. 



