SENECIO. 



THE ENGLISH FLO WE R GARDEN. 



SENECIO. 



tops and on old walls, is well known to 

 everybody. It may be used in flower- 

 gardening, but it would be better to select 

 some of the rarer species for edgings and 

 other purposes. It varies somewhat, and 

 a glaucous form called rusticum is one of 

 the most distinct. Other similar varieties 

 are Royeni, Rcegnerianum, Sequieri, 

 calcaratum, and Greenei. Greenei re- 

 sembles the common Houseleek, but is 

 smaller. 



S. triste is distinct from other House- 

 leeks, as its rosettes of leaves are of a 

 deep dull red, which makes it a hand- 

 some plant. It is about the size of S. 

 tectorum, and in light warm soil is quite 

 as vigorous and rapid a grower. Its 

 singular colour makes it a valuable con- 

 trast to other plants, but at present it is 

 not much known. 



Besides these kinds there are several 

 tender species which are now largely 

 used for summer gardening. The most 

 popular of these are S. tabulaeforme, a 

 singularly handsome kind, with broad 

 rosettes of leaves that lie flat on the soil ; 

 S. Bolli, with leaves that form a dense 

 cup-like tuft from 3 to 6 in. across ; and 

 S. arboreum, a tall, straggling plant, 

 with stout branches terminated by a 

 rosette of foliage. Propagated by 

 quantity in heat in spring or autumn 

 from offsets. 



SENECIO (Groundsel}. Most of these 

 Composites are troublesome weeds, but 

 a few are worthy of cultivation. The 

 following are among the most desirable : 



S. argenteus (Silvery Groundsel}. A 

 minute but sturdy silvery-leaved plant, 

 resembling on a small scale the popular 

 Centaurea Ragusina. It is only 2 in. high 

 when fully developed, and its leaves are 

 from \ to \\ in. long. It will stand any 

 weather, and live in sandy soil in any 

 well-drained border. It is valuable for 

 the rock-garden, and makes a beautiful 

 dwarf edging. Similar to this, but in- 

 ferior, are S. incanus, S. uniflorus, and S. 

 carniolicus, which are good rock-garden 

 plants. Division. 



S. artemisisefolius is a neat little 

 perennial, with broad clusters of showy 

 clear yellow flowers, on stems i to \\ ft. 

 high. The deep green leaves are finely 

 divided, and give the plant an elegant 

 feathery appearance. S. abrotanifolius 

 has similar foliage, but its orange-yellow 

 flowers are larger and are fewer in number. 

 Both kinds are hardy European plants 

 and thrive in ordinary soil either in the 

 rock-garden or in the border. 



S. Doronicum is one of the showiest 

 and most useful of Groundsels. It is I ft. 



to 3 ft. high, and in summer produces 

 stout stalks of numerous large bright 

 yellow flowers. It is perfectly hardy and 

 is of easy culture in any soil. Seed or 

 division. Central Europe. 



S. elegans (Purple Jacobcea). This 

 beautiful half-hardy annual has for genera- 

 tions been a favourite garden plant. It 

 has a dwarf strain (nana), about i ft. in 

 height, and there are varieties with single 

 and double flowers, the latter being the 

 showiest and most desirable. The 

 colours of these varieties vary from white 

 to deep crimson. S. elegans grows best 

 in rich sandy loam. It flowers from July 

 to October, according to the time of sow- 

 ing, and looks best in good-sized masses. 

 Cape of Good Hope. 



S. japonicus. This is one of the 

 finest of the large kinds. It is about 

 5 ft. high, and its leaves are nearly i ft. 

 across, and are divided into about nine 

 divisions. The flower-stems are slightly 

 branched, the flower - heads are about 

 3 in. across, and the outer narrow florets 

 are a rich orange colour. S. japonicus 

 is a hardy moisture-loving plant, and 

 should have plenty of water in summer. 

 It should be grown in a rich and moder- 

 ately stiff loamy soil, by a lake or a pond, 

 so that its roots may have plenty of 

 moisture. Japan. Syn., Erythrochaete 

 palmatifida. 



S. pulcher. One of the handsomest of 

 perennials, 2 to 3 ft. high, and bearing in 

 autumn rosy-purple flowers 2 to 3 in. 

 across, on tall stems. S. pulcher is hardy, 

 but its beauty is somewhat impaired by 

 the late season of its flowering. It succeeds 

 best in a deep moist loam. It rarely 

 ripens seed in this country, but it may be 

 freely propagated in spring by cuttings of 

 the roots, i in. long, and sown like seeds 

 in a pan of light sandy earth, placed in a 

 cool frame or put on a shelf in the green- 

 house. Buenos Ayres. 



S. saracenicus. In moist situations in 

 some parts of the west of England S. 

 saracenicus grows wild, and attains a 

 height of 4 to 5 ft. It is a showy plant, 

 suitable for the margins of ponds or 

 streams in semi-wild places, where it 

 spreads rapidly, and if associated with 

 the Willow Herb (Epilobium angusti- 

 folium) produces a beautiful contrast, as 

 the habit of the growth and the colour of the 

 flowers of each are distinct and effective. 

 Coarse species similar to this are S. Dorio 

 and S. macrophyllus. These are suitable 

 for the wild garden, but not for border 

 culture. 



S. spathulsefolius is a rare hardy 

 species, and an interesting and pretty 



