50 



A LITTLE BOOK OF PERENNL\LS 



Left, Columbines — the long-spurred sorts being the prettiest; rif/ht, Armeria or 

 Sea Pink; a good edging plant. 



long blue spurs. It is a native of the Western States and is found at 

 elevations of from 7,000 to 10,000 feet. As a parent it has produced 

 many excellent white, pink and blue varieties. The variety Rose 

 Queen is one of the most charming sorts. 



A. chrysantha is a yellow sort with long spurs which blooms some- 

 what later than the other sorts. It has been much used as a parent 

 for long-spurred hybrids. 



Common European Columbine {A. vulgaris). This is a European 

 species with bright lilac flowers, although its white form nivea is most 

 commonly grown. It is a dwarf sort, l3^ feet tall and with stout, 

 curved spurs. This variety has the best foliage of any Columbine, 



Uses. Most species are excellent for the rock garden, as well as 

 for the herbaceous border, where they make clumps sometimes 2 feet 

 in diameter. It is difficult to arrange Columbines as cut flowers, they 

 seem to strangle each other. When a truly exquisite eff'ect is desired, 

 cut a single truss of bloom and place it in a vase by itself. 



Culture and Propagation. Aquilegias bloom in from 12 to 15 

 months from seed; in other words, they rarely o*- never bloom the 

 first year when the seed is sown in the open border. When sown in 

 August of one year they will bloom nicely the next year. The seedhngs 

 prefer a warm, sandy soil. 



