Part II. PLUMBAGO— POLEMONIUM. 275 



slopes of the rock-garden, or in more open places in very moist 

 peat soil. In the former situations it may be associated with the 

 Wintergreens, the Twinflower, or the Starflower, and in the arti- 

 ficial bog with Rhexia virginica and the Bavarian Gentian. 

 Increased by small green bulbils, which are given off at the base 

 of the rosettes. 



PLUMBAGO LAEPENTJE.— iyar^^ P. 



A DWARF herbaceous plant, originally cultivated in stoves and 

 greenhouses, but now found to be perfectly hardy, and a first-rate 

 ornament for rockwork, banks, or sunny borders. Its numerous 

 wiry stems, covered regularly from top to bottom with light 

 green leaves nearly two inches^ long, and margined with hairs, 

 are half prostrate, but, being very profuse, form neat and full 

 tufts from six to ten inches high, according to soil and position. 

 In September these become nearly covered with flowers arranged 

 in close trusses at the end of the shoots, and of a fine cobalt blue, 

 afterwards changing to violet — the calyces being of a reddish 

 violet. The bloom usually lasts till the frosts. I have seen this 

 plant flourish in very cold soils, but it is in all cases desirable to 

 give it a warm sandy loam or other light soil and a sunny warm 

 position, as under these conditions the show of bloom is much 

 finer. In consequence of the semi-prostrate habit, it is well 

 suited for planting above the upper edges of vertical stones or 

 slopes on rockwork, and it may also be used with good effect 

 as a border-plant, or as an edging-plant in the flower-garden, 

 particularly in the case of slightly raised beds. A native of 

 China ; very easily increased by division of the root during winter 

 or early spring. 



POLEMONIUM CMB,TJIjEl!M.—yacodsiadder. 



This old garden favourite, with its tender green leaves and 

 rather showy blue flowers, so widely diffused over the northern 

 regions of the world, is chiefly mentioned here in consequence 

 of the striking beauty of its variegated variety (P. ccBruleum 

 variegatum). It is feathery, silvery, and so graceful that some- 

 times people mistake it for a " variegated fern," and most valu- 

 able for mixed borders, rockwork, the flower-garden, or almost 

 any position. It is so desirable as an edging-plant in the 

 flower-garden that its propagation and culture are of impor- 



T 2 



