HARDY EXOTIC FLOWERING PLANTS. 161 
the garden proper, but moist, shady, and bushy places, will suit it 
better. 
Mullein, Verbascwm.—Verbascum vernale is a noble plant, 
which has been slowly spreading in our collections of hardy plants 
for some years past, and it is a plant of 
peculiar merit. I first saw it in the Gar- 
den of Plants, and brought home some 
roots which gave rise to the stock now in 
our gardens. Its peculiarities, or rather 
its merits, are that it is a true perennial 
species—at least on the warm soils, and 
in this respect quite unlike other Mulleins 
which are sometimes seen in our gardens, 
and oftener in our hedgerows. It also has 
the advantage of great height, growing, 
as in the specimen shown in our illus- 
tration, to a height of about 10 feet, or 
even more. Then there are the large and 
green leaves, which come up rather early 
and are extremely effective. Finally, the 
colour is good and the quantity of yellow 
flowers with purplish filaments that are 
borne on one of these great branching 
panicles is something enormous. The 
use of such a plant cannot be difficult 
to define, it being so good in form and so 
distinct in habit. For the back part of 
a mixed border, for grouping with other 
plants of remarkable size or form of 
foliage, or for placing here and there in 
open spaces among shrubs, it is well 
suited. A bold group of it, arranged on 
the Grass by itself, in deep, light, and 
well-dressed soil, would be effective in a 
picturesque garden. It is also known in 
gardens by the name of Verbascum Chaixii, which name, we believe, 
was given to it at Kew. 
Periwinkle, Vinca.—Trailing plants, with glossy foliage and 
handsome blue flowers, well known in gardens. They are admirable 
plants for naturalisation, growing in any position, shady or sunny. 
M 
A tall Mullein. 
