166 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



blue corolla is tinged with red, but later on the colour becomes 

 an unmixed blue, and the blooms increase in size until more 

 than |in. across. The complexion of the foliage is very dark 

 (holly green), the leaves are about lin. long, and are narrow 

 and stalkless ; they have much substance and are rather hard. 

 The whole plant is thickly coated with hairs a common 

 feature of this order; but in this species the hairs are re- 

 markably stiff, those of the edges of the leaves being almost 

 thorny. 



The form of growth assumed by this plant eminently fits it for 

 rockwork. It should be so planted that its densely-branched 

 stems can fall over the face of a light- coloured stone ; in this 

 respect it forms a good companion to the dwarf phloxes, but it 

 is otherwise a superior rock plant, being more characteristic and 

 prolonged in its flowering. It should be allowed to grow to a 

 large size, which will require several years, or the object may 

 be sooner gained by planting half-a-dozen specimens in a group ; 

 this should be done when the plants are young, as it is very 

 impatient of being disturbed when once established. It would 

 make a capital edging plant for small shrubs, to come next the 

 grass, backed by a row of Erica carnea, which is also dwarf, a 

 continued bloomer and contemporaneous. Its propagation can 

 only be readily effected in this climate by cuttings, as it does not 

 ripen seed well ; it cannot be divided, because generally the little 

 shrub has a short bole, therefore, cuttings must be struck from 

 the previous year's growth ; they should be dibbled into fine sand 

 and peat, kept shaded and cool for several weeks; they root 

 quicker during the warm season, when they are also less liable 

 to be over-watered, which is a very common cause of failure in 

 striking cuttings ; they should be well rooted before the winter 

 sets in. 



Flowering period, May to July. 



Lobelia Cardinalis. 



CARDINAL FLOWER ; Nat. Ord. LOBELIACE.E. 

 THIS is one of the finest herbaceous perennials that bloom in 

 October ; stately, brilliant and lasting. There are many varieties 

 of it, and of late years some extra fine sorts have been raised 

 and named, all of which are good. The varieties differ much in 

 the foliage as well as the flowers, some being much larger, and 

 of a dark brown or reddish colour. The illustration (Fig. 60) is 

 drawn from the typical form, which has smooth foliage ; it is not 

 so large as some of the varieties, but it seemed desirable to figure 

 the type, otherwise the varieties might have proved misleading. 

 To a more than ordinary extent this plant is called by its 

 common name, " the Cardinal Flower," and I have very fre- 

 quently found that it has not been recognised by its proper 



