ROCKERY PLANTS 



135 



Some are single, others double. There 

 are blue, red, and white varieties. 

 They are easy enough to grow, but they 

 are not suitable for sunny rockeries, 

 as they love coolness and shade. 



(i) Iberis (Candytufts). Indispensable 

 plants, in spite of the fact that they 

 possess no range of colours, the flowers 

 being white. They are dwarf, spread 

 rapidly, and bloom in great profusion. 

 The best species are corifolia, gibraltar- 

 ica, and sempervirens, one or more of 

 which can be obtained from seedsmen, 

 and sown early in June. 



(i) Irises. The large and magnificent Iris 

 genus has been dealt with somewhat 

 fully in connection with herbaceous 

 plants, but attention must be called 

 to the fact that several species are 

 admirable plants for the rockery, no- 

 tably iberica, lilac and white ; pumila, 

 lilac and white; reticulata, violet and 

 yellow; and sisyrinchium, lilac and 

 yellow. These can be obtained from 

 bulb-merchants in autumn. 



Leontopodium alpinum. This is the Edel- 

 weiss, over which youthful misses 

 once grew sentimental, in the days 

 before they had taken to golf and 

 hockey. It has silvery foliage and 

 flowers. It is easy to grow, spreads 

 fairly freely, and as it is decidedly 

 distinct in appearance it may be in- 

 cluded. 



Linum (Flax). This genus contains several 

 beautiful plants, of which alpinum, 

 blue, is one of the most useful for the 

 rockery. 



(i) Myosotis (Forget-me-not}. Delightful 

 old favourites, which have been re- 

 ferred to under Herbaceous Flowers. 



(i) Narcissi. Some of the small Narcissi 

 are exquisite little rockery flowers, 

 notably the Cyclamen-flowered (cycla- 

 mineus), the Angel's Tears (triandrus) 

 and its white variety, and the charm- 



ing trumpet Daffodil called Johnstoni 

 Queen of Spain. All of these can 

 be purchased quite cheaply from bulb- 

 dealers in autumn, and will be very 

 cheerful in spring. 



Omphalodes verna. This is a pretty, 

 Forget-me-not-like plant, with bright 

 blue flowers, propagated by division. 



Orobus vernus. Another useful little flower, 

 propagated by division. 



Oxalis floribunda. A species of Oxalis 

 is often sold as Shamrock, but the 

 present is a large form, and would 

 hardly pass muster, apart from the 

 colour of its flowers, which is rose. 

 It is a free-blooming plant, propagated 

 by seed or division. 



Phloxes. One of the most valuable genera, 

 because the plants grow freely, bear 

 abundance of brilliant flowers, and 

 are easily propagated by seed or 

 division. What is called the "subu- 

 lata " section is the most useful. The 

 type plant is white, but its varieties 

 frondosa and Vivid are rose, and 

 Newry Seedling is lilac. They are 

 all worth growing. Frondosa is one 

 of the cheapest and most popular. 

 Another charming Phlox is divari- 

 cata, which has lilac flowers, but it is 

 taller than the subulata group. Ovata, 

 red, and reptans, violet, are also 

 valuable. 



(i) Primulas (Primroses). The coloured 

 Primroses and Polyanthuses, to which 

 we referred under Herbaceous Flowers, 

 may be used on rockeries, and so 

 may several distinct species. Rosea, 

 rose-coloured, is a brilliant gem, but 

 it will not thrive in a hot, dry place; 

 it must have a moist, cool spot. 

 Marginata, violet; and scotica, purple, 

 with yellow eye; are two charming 

 species. Seeds of several of the 

 Primulas are procurable, and may be 

 sown in fine, moist soil, preferably 



