HARDY FLOWERING PERENNIALS FOR BEDS, BORDERS, &c. 



Hardy HERACLEUM GIGANTEUM, or the Giant Parsnip, is a valuable perennial for planting on 



perennials. the outskirts of the wild garden, or under the drip of trees, as in illustration 



No. 373. It is best raised from seed sown in March. 



HOLLYHOCK. No garden can be said to be complete without Hollyhocks ; they are 

 indeed indispensable, showing to great advantage in almost any position, though best 

 with a background of wall or hedge. They should be found in every border, 

 especially those on the terrace. Single varieties are as effective as the choicer and 

 more expensive double ones. 



IBERIS, or Perennial Candytuft. C. Corresefolia is one of the finest. It has fine large 

 pure white flowers, and comes into bloom when the commoner varieties are over. 

 This is an excellent plant for growing in the rock garden or on the tops of walls. 



INULA GLANDULOSA, a useful plant, 2 to 2\ feet in height ; bears fine yellow flowers in June 

 and July. 



IRIS. Almost everyone who has seen a swamp knows the broad, succulent green blades 

 of the flag, or yellow-flowered iris, and the tall stem or sheath from which they 

 spring. The Iris Kaempferi, the sacred flower of Japan, can be similarly recognized, 

 but the flowers are of various shades of white, azure and dark blue, and dark blue 

 and blue purple, attaining under good cultivation a diameter of from 6 to 12 inches. 

 If allowed a fair quantity of bog earth or fatty loam, to retain moisture, they 

 succeed well in the border ; they are also amongst the most valuable plants for 

 the margins of ornamental waters. I. sibirica is another effective plant for moist 

 places, having grass-like foliage and numerous pale blue flowers streaked with white. 

 The well-known flag Iris, I. germanica, is another section, which may be planted 

 in almost any soil or situation. All the colours found amongst other Iris are to 

 be found in this class. In the Autumn, batches of Spanish and English Iris, both 

 of which are equally beautiful, should be planted in masses for flowering the 

 following June. 



LAVENDER. See Flowering Shrubs. 



LEUCOJUM VERNUM (Spring Snowflake), has pretty white flowers dotted with green, 

 resembling snowdrops. L. aestivum is similar to L. vernum, but taller in habit. In 

 foliage and flower these varieties are effective throughout the Summer months ; 

 height 18 inches. 



LILIUM. There are many varieties of lilies which are well worth growing, and which 

 make a fine show in the border. The following are all good : L. candidum, the 

 old garden or Madonna Lily, which has pure white flowers, should find a place 

 in every border where the soil is moderately light. L. croceum, or Orange Lily, 

 is a fine old lily, bearing six to eight orange-coloured flowers in clusters, on stems 

 varying from 4 to 5 feet in height. L. chalcedonicum, Turk's Cap, has rich scarlet 

 flowers in clusters of four to six on one stem ; it is of easy culture, and is one of 

 the finest varieties. There are very few hardy flowers which are so effective. L. 

 Humboldti is a tall-growing variety, bearing numerous flowers of a pretty golden 

 yellow with dark spots, and is of easy culture. L. tigrinum splendens, the Tiger 

 Lily, is one of the most useful for borders, a free flowerer, the colour being orange 

 scarlet with numerous black spots. L. Martagon has dark purple flowers, borne on 

 stems 4 to 5 feet in height, and is of good habit. L. M. album, a very fine white 

 variety of the preceding, of handsome appearance, should be in every border. L. 

 testaceum is a tall-growing variety with clusters of salmon-yellow coloured flowers, 

 very pretty, and easy to cultivate. L. pardalinum and L. speciosum should also 

 be grown. 



LITHOSPERMUM PROSTRATUM, for rockwork, is as fine a plant as could be wished for. In 

 colour it rivals the beautiful Gentiana verna, but is easier to grow, and thrives best 



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