CHAPTER VII 
Favourite Hardy Border Flowers—Simple Notes on their 
Cultivation 
Aconite or Monkshood, Aconitum Napellus—A well known 
plant that seems to be declining in popularity. Growing 3 or 4 
feet high or more, it bears deep blue flowers in August. ‘Thrives 
without any special care. The roots are poisonous. A very valu- 
able plant is A. Wilsoni; its handsome blue flowers open in 
September and continue in beauty during October. 
Alyssum.—The commonest and most useful perennial Alyssum 
(persisting from year to year) is the yellow flowered Madwort or 
Gold Dust, A. saxatile, which smothers its greyish leaves with 
bright yellow blossoms in spring. It is an excellent plant for the 
rockery, thrives in a dry, sunny spot, and is charming on top of adry 
rock ledge over which its flowers may droop. There is a beautiful 
variety with lemon coloured blooms called citrinum. Easily raised 
from seed sown outdoors in spring. Of the annual Alyssums (those 
which die after having flowered), the best are Sweet Alyssum and 
A. minimum. The former is well known, and prized for its pro- 
fusion of white scented flowers ; the latter is less generally grown, 
although it ought to be in every little garden. It makes a spread- 
ing tuft not more than 2 or 3 inches high, and is covered with tiny 
white blossoms throughout the summer. If when these begin to fade 
they are cut off, a second crop soon follows. Both these Alyssums 
grow readily from seed sown outdoors in late March or early April ; 
they will be in bloom in July. 
Anemone, Japanese.—A most useful and beautiful flower. 
The plant has a woody rootstock which dislikes being disturbed. 
It forms a splendid clump if left alone for a few years, and is one of 
the best plants for a shady border. It is increased by dividing the 
rootstock in early November. The flower stems reach a height of 
3or4 feet. The flowers are white or some shade of rose or pink. 
Lady Charlotte (rose), the old single white, and the variety rosea 
are among the best. ‘This is a splendid plant for a front garden that 
gets little sun. 
Anemones, Other.—The Poppy Anemone is a very showy 
plant with large flowers in many colours. The claw-like roots are 
planted in October and again in February for a succession of bloom. 
From seed sown in a partially shaded border in June, plants are 
raised that will flower the following spring. It dislikes a very 
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