Gardening for Amateurs 



381 



Flowers for the Mixed Border 



SOME of the most important hardy 

 border flowers are described on pages 

 131 to 169. In the following notes 

 attention is directed to a few others which, 

 though very attractive, are less often grown 

 by amateurs. 



Achillea (Milfoil or Yarrow). The 

 Yarrows are useful free-flowering plants 

 for the border or for the rock garden. 

 Division of the roots forms a ready means 

 of increase, this being done during favour- 

 able weather from October to March ; they 

 may be also raised from seeds sown on a 

 border out of doors or in a cold frame 

 from April to June ; the seedlings will 

 flower well the following year. The plants 

 thrive in moist soils, and in all situations 

 except those which are heavily shaded. 

 A. alpina, a white-flowered kind, with prettily 

 cut foliage, grows about 2 feet high, and 

 flowers throughout the summer ; it is useful 

 for cutting. A. Eupatorium is a strong- 

 growing plant, 3 to 4 feet high, producing 

 in summer large flat heads of yellow flowers, 

 which last in good condition on the plants 

 for a long time. This is known as the Giant 

 Golden Yarrow, and is the best for large 

 beds ; is also known as A. filipendulina. A. 

 Millefolium roseum is a pretty rose-coloured 

 form of our common wild Yarrow ; it grows 

 from 2 to 3 feet high, and flowers freely in 

 Kummer. Cerise Queen is a form of this 

 with cherry -red flowers, and Kelwayi has 

 rosy-crimson blooms. Flowering from June 

 to September, all three are worthy of a place 

 in the border, while they thrive well and 

 look very pretty among tufts of grass in 

 the wilder parts of the garden. A. mongolica 

 has white flowers of considerable value for 

 cutting ; the plants grow some 2 feet high 

 and flower during June and July ; A. sibirica 

 is a second name for this plant. A. Ptarmica 

 The Pearl, the Double Sneezewort, is one of 

 the most useful perennials with white flowers. 

 The roots or underground stems spread 

 rapidly in the border, the plants soon forming 

 large clumps with masses of double white 

 flowers on stems about 2 feet high, and 

 bloom from June to September. 



Anthericum (St. Bernard's Lily). 



The most generally cultivated Anthericum 

 in gardens is the St. Bernard's Lily (A. 

 Liliago), which grows wild in Europe and 

 North Africa. It belongs to the Lily family, 

 and grows about 2 feet high. The plants 

 form large tufts of grass-like foliage, amongst 

 which spring up during summer numerous 

 spikes bearing pretty white flowers. It is 

 useful in the herbaceous border, and may 

 also find a place in the wild garden and along 

 the front of the shrubbery ; the variety 

 Algeriense (major) has larger flowers. A 

 second kind (A. Liliastrum) also known as 

 Paradisea Liliastrum, St. Bruno's Lily, has 

 fragrant white flowers, larger than those of 

 the preceding ; majus and giganteum are 

 improved varieties, 2 to 3 feet high, bearing 

 elegant spikes of pure white flowers. These 

 exquisite white flowers should be grown for 

 cutting. A third kind, A. ramosum (gramiiu- 

 folium), has grass-like tufts, and freely 

 branched spikes, 2 feet high, bearing small 

 white flowers, produced during June and 

 July. The Anthericuma delight in well- 

 drained soil, preferably enriched with a 

 little leaf-soil. They may be planted in 

 the full sun or partial shade. Autumn is 

 the best time to divide and plant the roots, 

 though if not convenient then the work may 

 be done in February or March. Seeds may 

 also be sown in sandy soil in a cold frame 

 as soon as ripe. 



Centaurea (Knapweed). The Knap- 

 weeds are a fairly large family, but not 

 more than five or six can bo considered 

 useful hardy perennials. The best of the 

 annual Centaureas are the well-known Blue 

 Cornflowers and the Sweet Sultans. The 

 perennial kinds are attractive in the her- 

 baceous borders, nnd one, C. montana, with 

 its several varieties, makes a beautiful bod, 

 producing a succession of flowers from May 

 to autumn. Give the Pereiuual (Vntaureos 

 a sunny position and rather light, well- 

 drained soil ; plant tin in in groups along 

 the herbaceous border or in masses in the 

 shrubbery. They are readily propagated 

 by sowing seeds on a prepared bed outside 



