A YEAR'S GARDENING 



is a showy plant growing some 3 feet high and bearing fine spikes of 

 red or crimson or white flowers. There is also a dwarf kind — H. 

 obscurum — ^growing about 9 or 12 inches high, a perennial with 

 flowers of bright purple. Both may be raised from seed. 



HELENIUM. A hardy autumn-flowering perennial, of vigorous 

 growth and thriving in any ordinary soil. H. Hoopesi, with its 

 bright orange flowers, is a variety which is generally recommended, 

 as it blooms early ; but H. grandiceps, with its massive head of bloom, 

 and H. pumilum, a dwarfer kind, are as good as any. They may be 

 raised from seed. 



HELIANTHEMUM {Rock Cistus). A hardy perennial of dwarf 

 evergreen character, but being compact in form and profuse in 

 flower it is well suited for the Rock Garden. H. vulgare (the common 

 Sun Rose), from which several varieties of similar character have 

 sprung, is probably the most useful a,nd varies in the colour of its 

 flowers, from white and yeUow to many shades of red. It may be 

 raised from seed. 



HELIANTHUS {Sunflower). The Sunflower may be divided 

 into two classes — the perennial (sometimes called Harpalium) and 

 the annual, both quite hardy. The perennials are of such vigorous 

 growth and increase so rapidly that they should not be introduced 

 into a small garden without consideration, but in the Wild Garden, 

 and in shrubberies and woods, they may be made very effective, 

 being especially valuable because of their flowering in late autumn. 

 H. decapetalus, a bushy plant some 4 or 5 feet high, with abundance 

 of rich yellow flowers, H. giganteus, often attaining a height of 10 

 feet, and bearing large flowers of deep yellow 2 or 3 inches in diameter, 

 and H. vigidus, one of the best-known and flowering very freely, are 

 all good examples. Of the annual sunflower there are many varieties 

 — from the miniature kinds, both single and double, with flowers of 

 many shades of yellow and various forms of petals, to the tall, large- 

 flowered kind with their huge heads of bloom measuring some 18 

 inches across — ^giving abundant scope for choice. 



HELICHRYSUM {Everlastings). Although this is usually 

 classed as a hardy annual it is seldom successful when so treated, 

 for being late in flowering it is more often than not cut down by the 

 frost before it has attained its full colour. Treated as a half-hardy 

 annual, however, by sowing in pans in the autumn and protecting 

 it during the winter^ it may be planted out early in spring and will 

 mature its flowers before being nipped by the frost. H. arenarium, 



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