PENTSTEMO.V. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



PENTSTEMON. 733 



garden varieties, or so-called hybrids, 

 may be ranged under two series those 

 from,/ 3 . Hartwegi belonging to the red- 

 flowered set, and those from P. gentian- 

 aides to the purple-flowered. 



As regards culture, the species have 

 the reputation of being difficult to man- 

 age, as some of the shrubby section die 

 when apparently in health. To ensure 

 success, drainage is often essential, as 

 they fear moisture at the roots more than 

 cold. The best soil is friable loam, with 

 a mixture of well-decayed leaf mould 

 and sharp sand. It is well to have a few 

 plants in cold frames, to fill any gaps in 

 the borders. They may be grown from 

 cuttings or seeds. The former mode 

 applies chiefly to the shrubby kinds, which 

 strike freely in spring ; and, in favourable 

 seasons, seeds are borne by those from 

 which it is not easy to get cuttings. Any 

 attempt to multiply some kinds by divid- 

 ing the tufts will result in the loss of the 

 plants, but P. barbatus and P. confertus 

 endure this mode of increase. Seed 

 should be sown in February or March on 

 a gentle hot-bed under a frame, in seed- 

 pans well drained with broken plaster and 

 filled with a compost of peat soil and sand. 

 In April the seedlings should be pricked 

 out under a frame, and these, planted 

 out in May, will usually flower by 

 autumn. Another mode is to sow in May 

 or June in the open air, in ground enriched 

 with leaf-mould. The seed-beds should be 

 covered with chopped Moss, to preserve 

 a uniform temperature and humidity. 

 In August the seedlings should be 

 potted and removed to a greenhouse 

 or conservatory for the winter. Not 

 infrequently all or part of the seed sown 

 at either of these seasons lies dormant 

 until the following year. Foxglove order. 



The following are the cultivated species. 

 Some are not sufficiently hardy for border 

 culture, though they succeed well enough 

 against a warm wall. 



P. acuminatus. A pretty plant growing 

 rigidly erect to 12 or 18 inches, with thick 

 greyish leaves clasping the stem and a compact 

 spike of mauve or violet flowers, wide at the 

 throat and nearly an inch long. 



P. antirrbinoides. A plant of wiry growth, 

 freely branched and varying much in height. 

 Leaves small, oval or nearly so, and broad 

 flowers in clusters of three, clear yellow, and 

 fragrant. Tender in this country save in warm 

 light soils. California. 



P. azureus. A beautiful plant of I to 2 

 feet, forming a neat tuft of narrow grey leaves 

 and loose spikes of azure-blue flowers shading 

 to reddish-purple at the base. N. California. 

 Jaffrayanus. One of the best dwarf kinds, 

 about a foot high, with reddish stems bearing 



large flowers of rich blue in showy clusters of 

 three to five blossoms. 



P. barbatus. A tall erect plant, very showy 

 in a dry season and one of the best and hardi- 

 est kinds. Its spikes of narrow tubular 

 flowers, varying from light pink to hright car- 

 mine, rise from a dense spreading tuft of 

 bright green leaves. A flesh-coloured form is 

 known as carnetitn, and there is also a white 

 form. Other varieties are Torreyi, with deep 

 scarlet flowers, longer in the lip and coming 

 rather later than in the parent ; and Ant- 

 werpensis, of looser procumbent habit, the 

 stems rooting where they touch the ground, 

 and bearing small flowers of vivid scarlet. 

 Syn. Chelonc Barbata. 



P. breviflorus. A distinct plant with short 

 tubular flowers of yellow or light red, with 

 darker red lines within, appearing late in au- 

 tumn upon slender many-flowered stems. 



P. Bridges!!. A scarce Californian plant of 

 12 to 1 8 inches, with narrow grey leaves and 

 spikes of bright red flowers, rather like those 

 of P. Barbatits, but shorter in the tube. 

 Minor botanical differences have caused some 

 authors to place it in a sub-gender, Saccan- 

 thera. 



P. caeruleus. A dwarf kind rarely exceed- 

 ing 9 inches, with large flowers varying from 

 light blue to lilac and white, or more rarely 

 flushed with rose. The plant is sub-shrubby 

 in habit with grey foliage, and is one of the 

 most beautiful for the rock-garden. 



P. campanulatus. A Mexican species of 

 about 2 feet with diffuse spreading habit, 

 branching freely from a woody base ; stemless 

 leaves narrowing from a broad base and much 

 toothed. Long narrow spikes of flowers vari- 

 ously shaded in pink and violet, and borne 

 ! during a long season. Comes freely from seed. 

 A distinct form, albus, bears long tubular 

 flowers of creamy-white. A plant of many 

 names ; angristtfolius , atropurpureus, pulchel- 

 lus, &c. 



P. centranthifolius. A slender leafy kind 

 with thick grey leaves and narrow scarlet 

 flowers appearing in June. California and 

 Arizona. It comes near P. Murrayanus, and 

 though less handsome than that kind, is easier 

 to grow, and rather hardier. 



P. Cleveland!. A Californian species akin 

 to barbatus, with grey^ stems and foliage 

 springing from a woody base ; flower spikes 

 long and slender, with narrow tubular flowers 

 of bright crimson, thickly set. Leaves sharply 

 toothed. A good border kind. 



P. Cobaea. A handsome kind from Texas 

 and a parent of the garden varieties. Stout 

 erect growths of 2 feet, with thick deep green 

 leaves, minutely hairy and a little sticky. 

 Flowers very large and open, narrowing 

 rapidly to the base ; colour varying from red- 

 dish-purple to nearly white. August. A 

 rather tender kind, of difficult increase, and 

 doing best in a warm season. A fine variety 

 purpnrea bears very large purple flowers 

 shaded with violet, one of the best forms that 

 can be grown. Other kinds are often sold as 



