165 



Hardy Perennial Plants* 



AC/ENA MICROPHYLLA A native of New Zealand. In localities 

 where this species will thrive it will be found one of the best trailing 

 dwarf sub-shrubs. The flowers are inconspicuous, but the flower heads, 

 on maturing, are covered with long, crimson spines, which give the 

 plant a very ornamental appearance. For a rockery few plants surpass 

 it in forming neat, compact masses. It is not particular as to soil. In 

 this locality young plants are best put out in their permanent positions 

 early in the Fall, as when put out in Spring they do not make sufficient 

 growth to insure a healthy, vigorous condition during the hot months. 

 It is propagated by division and from seeds. 



ACANTHUS In warm spots, at least three of the species are hardy 

 with us, but they bloom only sparingly. In one or two of the species, 

 but notably in A. spinosus, the flower stalks have a handsome appear- 

 ance for quite a while after the flowers are dead. A. mollis and A. m. 

 latifolius were used for bedding in this city a few years ago. These 

 kinds are easily increased by division of the roots. Seeds are readily 

 obtained. The seedlings may be planted out in places where they are to 

 remain a few weeks after germinating. They are deep-rooting plants. 

 In the colder parts of the country all of the species should have the 

 crowns protected in Winter. 



ACHILLEA niLLEFOLIUn A native composite, with large flat corymbs 

 of white, red, or purple flowers. The leaves are much divided. It is one 

 of the easiest plants to cultivate in the open border, spreading very 

 rapidly and flowering profusely. Large clumps may be divided with a 

 spade at any time during Spring or Autumn and replanted. It usually 

 grows from one to two feet high. 



A. ptarmica flore=pleno The variety of this known as The Pearl is 

 one of the most desirable of hardy herbaceous plants, because of the 

 flowers, which are double and white. They are produced in great pro- 

 fusion if the plants get fair treatment. This Achillea should not be 

 divided in Spring, for unless favorable weather conditions follow the 

 operation the plants will receive a check from which they do not thor- 

 oughly recover the same season. If taken up and divided during the 

 first half of October, replanted and watered if necessary, they will de- 

 velop working roots before freezing weather, and send up flowers the 

 following season as if nothing had happened. Do not divide the plants 

 too closely, and if the ground in which they are growing is dry, water 

 well before the operation and give another watering when the pieces are 

 replanted. 



Other varieties of A. p. flore-pleno are known as Snowball and Ele- 

 gans, all of them are white flowered. 



