252 The American Flower Garden 



type is a frightful colour and must be used alone. Resists drought. 

 Rather weedy habit. Flowers saucer-like, 2 inches across. Sow on 

 surface in May. 



PHLOX, ANNUAL (Phlox Drummondi). Red, crimson, white, and prim- 

 rose. July to October; i foot. Makes a spreading bushy tuft with 

 a profusion of flowers f inch across. Sow thinly in May and cut 

 back after first flowers if in dry soil and water freely. Self-sows for 

 succession. 



PINK, CHINESE (Dianthus Chinensis, var. Heddewigi). White, rose, 

 maroon. August; I foot. Flowers i inch across, fringed and 

 variously variegated. Warm, well-drained soil. Sow outdoors 

 March, April; indoors February for May bloom. 



POPPY, CORN (Papaver Rhceas). Pink, scarlet, white. August, Septem- 

 ber; J to 2 feet. More refined varieties are the "Shirley Poppies." 

 Sow thinly on cool soil; often self-sows, and then blooms early. 



, OPIUM (P. somniferuni). 3 feet. Large flowers double or 



single in great variety of colours, not yellow. Bold glaucous foliage. 



PORTULACA. See ROSE Moss. 



ROSE Moss (Portulaca grandi flora). White, red, magenta. July to 

 October; 6 to 9 inches. Very brilliant flowers I inch across, flourish- 

 ing on dry soils. Leaves succulent, rounded. Single varieties bloom 

 earlier than doubles. Scatter seeds on the surface when weather is 

 warm. Most gaudy plants for very dry places. 



SALPIGLOSSIS (S. sinuata). Shades of purple and blue through reds and 

 yellows to creamy white, and variously veined and mottled. Sum- 

 mer; i to 2 feet. Tubular flowers, with large, flat expansion. Very 

 efFective and most singular. Treat as half hardy, sowing in heat. 

 Any good soil. 



SAGE, SCARLET (Salvia splendens). Scarlet. August; 2 feet. A tender 

 perennial, but very commonly grown as a hardy annual. The spikes 

 of scarlet, a foot long, are the hottest flowers of the hot season. 



SENSITIVE PLANT (Mimosa pudica). i foot. Grown as a curiosity. 

 Leaflets fold up and stalks drop when touched or shaken. Intro- 

 duced from tropical America in 1638, but is easily grown from seed 

 sown outdoors in May. Flowers a small ball of pink filaments. 



SHELL FLOWER (Molucella lavis). White, pink tipped. Fragrant. 

 June, July; 2 to 3 feet. Shell-like calyx in which four white seeds 

 nestle like eggs. Gaping flowers. Self-sows. Any soil. 



