252 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



the side of what we may term the true form, which has sometimes 

 vera added to its name, this one has a plain and somewhat 

 " dumpy " appearance, and frequently the tips of the leaves curl 

 back, which further detracts from its ornamental quality. A 

 third form has small rosettes, pale green foliage, indistinct 

 silvery dots, and, worse than all, the habit of throwing out a 

 progeny of young growths all round the collar, f uraishing itself 

 as with a ruff:, when the parent rosette turns to a yellowish- 

 green. Of all the forms this is the most constant bloomer. The 

 favourite variety, to which an engraving can do but scant justice, 

 is superior to the above kinds in all its parts. Its blooming 

 period is in early summer, but specimens often grow in size and 

 beauty for three or five years without producing flowers. The 

 foliage is the more admired feature, and is at its greatest beauty 

 in December. 



The flowers are borne in handsome panicles, in the style of 

 those of 8. pyramidalis, which are about 18in. high. The blossom 

 is of the kind common to this section. The leaves are long, 

 narrow, toothed bluntly, and spotted with silvery dots; the whole 

 leaf is greyish ; the habit is rigid and of even arrangement ; the 

 rosettes are of all sizes, from 2in. to lOin. in diameter. At Sin. to 

 6in. they are attractive, and as they grow larger, they become 

 conspicuous in their beauty. It is not desirable to have them 

 flower, inasmuch as the rosettes are then destroyed, though the 

 plants do not die. Of course, if a specimen " shows bloom " it 

 cannot be helped, but rather than lose a season's produce of 

 young stock I would nip out the " lead," and so cause offsets to 

 be produced instead of flowers. 



In the rock garden this is one of the most telling subjects that 

 can be introduced ; not only does it love to have its roots 

 amongst the stones, but it is a form which harmonises and yet 

 contrasts finely with such shapeless material, and, further, 

 relieves the sameness of verdure of other plants in a more than 

 ordinary degree. It will grow in borders or beds, but looks 

 nowhere so well as on rockwork. True, its uses are limited, but 

 then they are exceedingly effective. I have grown this subject in 

 almost every kind of soil and compost, and it has done well in 

 most ; stiff clay-like loam appears too cold or wet for it ; on the 

 other hand, a sandy loam, mixed with leaf soil, grows it finely ; 

 perfect drainage is the desideratum, in no matter what position 

 it is planted. It may be increased in various ways 1st, By 

 seeds, which may be bought, as it is carefully harvested abroad ; 

 2nd, from offsets, as already stated ; and, 3rd, from offsets 

 produced by cutting out the leaves in two or more parts, so as to 

 let the light in at the collar. This method may seem heartless, 

 and it certainly spoils the specimen ; it is a mode to be followed 

 only where there are spare old plants and young stock is needed. 



Flowering period, June and July. 



