20 ALPINES AND BOG-PLANTS 



rank of small shrubs for the rock-garden. Especially is 

 it lovely when, with spring, the young green of the 

 dawning leaves contrasts with the russet and ruby of 

 last year's persisting sprays. 



But perhaps, of all shrubs introduced in the last twenty 

 years, Bvddleia variabilis, in its varieties, takes the first 

 place. Almost tropically luxuriant is this wonderful 

 great ragged bush, which is hardier and more easy-going 

 and more rampant than many a Lilac or Syringa (not to 

 mention, too, that it blooms in August, when all other 

 flowering shrubs are long since over and done with). 

 Almost tropically gorgeous, too, with its countless fox- 

 brush spikes of dense violet flowers, golden-eyed and 

 sweetly-scented (which last so much longer if only they 

 can be protected from the ravages of bees). Bitddleia 

 variabilis requires hard pruning, and its flowers do not 

 stand in water, otherwise the plant has no fault of any 

 kind, for any position in the whole garden. There is 

 now a prostrate form of it, too, which I am trying this 

 year. If it proves as magnificent as its description, this 

 should be as invaluable for the rock-garden as type 

 variabilis is for the garden in general. Globosa I have 

 not yet grown, it being too large ; and the almost dizzily 

 sweet asiatica is a cold greenhouse plant. Remains 

 Buddleia Colvillei, reported as a miracle of beauty and 

 difficulty, delicate, miffy, shy, — but glorious, in its native 

 Himalyas, with showers of big rosy trumpets over soft 

 grey leaves. I foolishly and desperately resolved last 

 year that I would have a try at Buddleia Colvillei. I 

 ordered a plant which, when it arrived, turned out to be 

 at least three inches high. In utmost trepidation and 

 scorn of my own rashness, I planted it out none the less, 

 under a wall, in good soil. Immediately the most fearful 

 storms, sleets, and frosts swept down across the north, 

 followed by a blighting drought accompanied by unceas- 



