HARDY PERENNIALS FOR SPRING 97 



potting in the autumn. In Italy the large-leaved Saxifrage 

 (S. crassifolia) is used as a pot plant in all sorts of positions 

 on terrace-walls, on the balustrade of a sunny loggia, some- 

 times even in the half-shadow of an over-springing archway. 

 The pink clusters of flowers rise well above the thick oval 

 leaves, and the good effect of the old-fashioned plant thus 

 grown takes one by surprise. To get the ruddy flush of 

 leafage which they will put on in full exposure, the plants 

 must live out of doors, and be brought into the greenhouse 

 only in the depth of winter. There is a charming white 

 variety of this species very little known, and both should be 

 noted. 



Some of the Doronicums are bright and sunny-looking. 

 The dwarf D. caucasicum responds quickly to kindly shelter, 

 and opens its big yellow Daisy-like flowers very early in the 

 year. The tall D. excelsum comes into bloom a little later. 

 It is apt to flag in the hot spring sunshine, and must be kept 

 as cool as possible. 



Another favourite and good plant is our old friend Dielytra, 

 now called Dicentra spectabilis. It is a hardy perennial, but 

 in some parts of the country the succulent stems and sprays 

 of graceful pink flowers are often damaged by late spring 

 frosts. 



Another very charming hardy perennial is the white form of 

 the Peach-leaved Bell-flower (Campanula persicifolia). To get 

 it to flower in early spring requires considerable forethought, 

 as the foundation for the next season must be laid in the 

 previous April, but the way to manage it is as follows : Good 

 side-pieces must be chosen which show no sign of sending up 

 flowering stems, or the plant will be in bloom before it is 

 wanted. These should be potted firmly in good loam, in 

 7 -in. pots, and plunged at once in an outside border. In the 

 autumn the pots must be transferred to a cold frame, like 

 most other plants which are being brought on gently for 



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