68 MY SHRUBS 



orange-scarlet, sessile blossoms, make the most splendid colour 

 October can show in the garden. It might be more correct to 

 say November, for it shares with some other treasures the 

 habit of very tardy flowering. Thus, though pretty hardy, it is 

 always a doubtful shrub in the South. When the flowers pro- 

 mise, watch the weather and protect them against cold nights. 

 It is a good plant, and if successful out of doors, obtains to a 

 great size. Set the Lion's tail under a south wall, and cut it 

 back pretty hard after flowering. I have a valued friend who 

 performs wonders with Leonotis. 



Leftospermum, from Australia, is beginning to hold its own 

 in gardens ; but these shrubs need winter care unless their home 

 is perfectly sheltered and there exists overhead protection of trees. 

 The frost injures them quickly. L. stellulatum, L. lanigerum y 

 and L. bullatum are here. The last is a New Zealander, and 

 opens its little white stars in May. I protect these plants, but 

 doubt if the first-named needs it, though the last certainly does, 

 and slight cold soon cuts the finials. L. l<zvigatum makes a tree, 

 and must be a splendid object on a large scale. It is very 

 beautiful of shrub size. I have, too, a neat dwarf species on a 

 limestone rockery. It thrives, but has not flowered as yet. 



What of Leschenaultia ? Perhaps the name has frightened 

 nurserymen away from this good Australian. Nicholson com- 

 mends it heartily, and describes some splendid species. Their 

 flowers are all colours of the rainbow, and certain of them ought 

 to be attempted out of doors in the West Country. L. biloba 

 major is described by the master above-named as " perhaps the 

 finest blue-flowered shrub in cultivation." Then why on earth 

 are we not all cultivating it ? The genus is admittedly difficult, 



