HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 



1(51 



tlie garden proper, Imt moist, shady, and busliy places, will suit it 

 better. 



Mullein, Verhascmn. — ^Verbascuni vernale is a noble plant, 

 wliiLli lias been slowly spreading in our collections of hardy plants 

 f(jr some years past, and it is a plant of 

 peculiar merit, I first saw it in the Gar- 

 den of Plants, and brought home some 

 roots whicli gave rise to the stock now in 

 our gardens. Its peculiarities, or rather 

 its merits, are that it is a true perennial 

 species — at least on the warm soils, and 

 in tlus respect cpiite unlike other Mulleins 

 which are sometimes seen in our gardens, 

 and oftener in our hedgerows. It also has 

 the advantage of great height, growing, 

 as in the specimen shown in our illus- 

 tration, to a height of about 10 feet, or 

 even more. Then there are the large and 

 green leaves, whicli come up rather early 

 and are extremely effective. Finally, the 

 colour is good and the c[uantity of yellow 

 flowers with purplisli filaments that are 

 borne on one of these great branching 

 panicles is something enormous. The 

 use of sucli a plant cannot Ije difficult 

 to define, it being so good in form and so 

 distinct in habit. For the back part of 

 a mixed border, for grouping with other 

 plants of remarkable size or form of 

 foliage, or for placing here and there in 

 open spaces among shrubs, it is well 

 suited. A bold group of it, airanged on 

 the Grass by itself, in deep, light, and 

 well-dressed soil, would be effective in a 

 picturesque garden. It is also known in 



gardens by tlie name of Verbascum Chaixii, wliich name, we believe, 

 was given to it at Kew. 



Periwinkle, Vinca. — Trailing plants, with glossy foliage and 

 handsome blue flowers, Avell known in gardens. They are admiraljle 

 plants for naturalisation, growing in any position, shady or sunny. 



M 



A tall Mullein. 



