ANCHUSA 17 



ANCHU'SA continued. 



These are pretty plants, well worth attention, 

 particularly A. italica Dropmore variety, reminding 

 one of the Forget-me-not. A true blue is such an 

 uncommon colour in the garden, that, for this 

 reason, if for no other, they are valuable. With 

 the exception of A. capensis, they are fairly hardy, 

 but will not always survive the winter, and appear 

 to prefer a shady nook rather than bright sun- 

 shine. 



A. hy'brida. Height 2 ft. White and violet-blue 

 blossoms in July. Italy, 1820. 



A. ita'lica is really a perennial, but should be 

 treated as biennial. It has tall spikes of 

 intense blue flowers, 3 ft. high, which bees 

 are very fond of. There is a form, A. italica 

 amoena, that is an improvement on the type 

 and a free flowerer. S. Europe, 1810. The 

 now well-known Dropmore variety, of quite 

 recent introduction, has practically ousted all 

 the other forms. It will grow 5 ft. high, and 

 is covered with true-blue flowers an inch 

 across. A noteworthy acquisition to the 

 border, especially in large groups. It does 

 best if treated as a biennial. 



A. cape' mis, The Cape Forget-me-not. Height 1 ft. 

 Pretty, large, bright blue flowers in June. 

 A biennial from the Cape of Good Hope, 

 1830. 



Sow A. hybrida in early spring in ordinary soil 



B 



