RODGERSIA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



ROMNEYA. 



771 



continues at intervals till autumn. It 

 may be known when not in leaf by the 

 dense rusty hairs covering the young 

 twigs. Its branches are brittle and apt 

 to get broken by high winds, especially if 

 it has been grafted high ; therefore choose 

 a spot sheltered from high winds. If the 

 branches become heavy, especially in 

 flower-time, support them by stakes. It 

 may be grown as an espalier, like a fruit 

 tree, and this will protect it from winds, 



are produced on tall branching spikes. R. 

 podophylla is perfectly hardy, enjoying 

 peaty soil and a shady situation. It is 

 easily propagated by cutting the stoloni- 

 ferous root- stock, and twenty plants can 

 be obtained from a single root-stock in one 

 year. Japan. 



ROMNEYA ( White Bush Poppy). 

 Among plants of recent introduction per- 

 haps none surpass in stately beauty this 

 fine Californian Poppywort, R Cotdteri 



Romneya Coulteri. 



or it may be trained against a wall. There 

 are several so-called varieties, but none is 

 more beautiful than the type. The 

 variety macrophylla (large-leaved) is of 

 stronger growth and has finer foliage and 

 flowers. N. America. 



RODGrERSIA. R. podophylla is a 

 handsome-leaved plant of the Saxifrage 

 family, with bronze-green leaves measuring 

 i ft. or more across and cleft into five 

 broad divisions. The inconspicuous flowers 



In favourable localities it has flowered 

 freely on lengths of the current year's 

 growth, fully 7 ft. high, when with some 

 twelve or fifteen flowers in bloom at the 

 same time, the plant has a charming effect. 

 The flowers are of a peculiarly delicate 

 texture, the petals somewhat transparent, 

 and yet enduring in a good state for days ; 

 their fragrance delicate, something like 

 that of a Magnolia. It is perennial, sub- 

 shrubby, and the deeply-cut glaucous 

 3 D 2 



