HARDY PERENNIAL PLANTS. 133 



in partial shade in the rockery. Increased by division before growth 

 begins. 



QENTIANA (Gentian)— Although these are among the most beautiful 

 of hardy plants they will not pay the florist to handle them. With one 

 or two exceptions the kinds which are so popular in northern Europe 

 do not succeed in the Middle Atlantic States. Our hot, dry Summers are 

 against them. G. Andrewsii and G. saponaria are both natives. They 

 may be planted in half-shaded situations, where their roots will pene- 

 trate deeply. 



QERANIUn SANQUINEUn— This species is about the only satisfac- 

 tory one in the genus for our hot, dry Summers. For rock work it is 

 probably the best all-round plant grown. It seldom invades the terri- 

 tory of other plants, never looks weedy, and is in flower from early till 

 late. The flowers are solitary, about II/2 inches across, crimson. Prop- 

 agated by division, or from seed. The plant is quite hardy. 



QYPSOPHILA— G. paniculata is grown to a considerable extent for 

 cutting. The flowers are small, whitish, but produced in great profu- 

 sion, in large panicles. Increased by seeds. The seedlings must get all 

 the light possible, as they are very liable to get weak if kept at all 

 shaded. G. prostrata is a very dwarf species suitable for rock work. 

 Increased from cuttings in Spring or Fall. 



HELIANTHUS (Sunflower)— The perennial species are, for the most 

 part, useful late blooming plants. In favorable positions some of the 

 species grow very tall. They are among the easiest plants to increase 

 by division. H. decapitatus, single flowered, usually grows about 6 feet 

 high. H. a. multiflorus varies considerably; in some forms the florets 

 are arranged like those in the anemone-flowered chrysanthemum; other 

 forms have them of a uniform size. A most useful plant for supplying 

 cut bloom. H. orgyalis blooms in September. H. rigidus and H. mollis 

 are both good species. 



HELLEBORUS (Christmas Rose)— There are about a dozen species, 

 with numerous varieties principally of hybrid origin. All of them are 

 well worth growing because of their early-blooming nature. H. niger is 

 the true Christmas Rose, which, under favorable conditions, will some- 

 times flower in December, and in colder parts of the country it comes 

 into bloom after one or two genial days. H. n. altifolius has flowers 

 much larger than the type. H. colchicus, a species with deep purple 

 flowers, blooms early in March. H. orieutalis (the Lenten Rose) has 

 rose-colored flowers— one of the best in this latitude. Among its many 

 varieties H. o. guttatus is white flowered with purple-spotted sepals. 

 Propagation is effected by root division. Seeds of most of them are 

 freely ripened. If sown as soon as gathered, and kept in a cold frame, 

 they germinate well; but the seedlings take two or three years to make 

 flowering plants. 



HEMEROCALLIS (Day Lily)— H. fulva, the species so common in 

 waste places all over the Eastern States, is not a native; but with H. 

 flava, less commonly seen, it has escaped from cultivation. H. graminea 



