226 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



bouquets and vases. Large masses in the border or small beds 

 of these annual kinds are very effective. 



Gilias are gay little plants, profusely covered with flowers of 

 various shades of colour ; they are very attractive when grown 

 in masses in the border, and the cut flowers are useful for vase 

 work — lasting a long time in water ; they are also valuable bee- 

 plants. For spring flowering the seed should be sown in autumn, 

 whilst for summer and autumn flowering, the best time to sow is 

 towards the end of March or beginning of April; they 

 require a rather light rich soil. G. achilleafolia (Milfoil- 

 leaved Gilia) has purplish-blue flowers, several together on long 

 peduncles; it grows from ift. to i^ft. high, and flowers in August; 



there is also, a form with white 

 and another with red flowers, 

 both of them very good. G. 

 androsacea (Fig. 120) has lilac, 

 pink, or nearly white flowers, with 

 dark yellow throats ; it grows from 

 gin. to i2in., and flowers during 

 August ; it is also known as Lepto- 

 siphon ' androsaceus, under which 

 name it is generally described in 

 catalogues. G. capitata bears 

 blue sessile flowers in dense 

 heads in July; i8in. to 2ft. high. 

 G. densiflora {Leptosiphon densi- 

 Horus) has soft lilac-coloured 

 flowers, ; this and the white 

 variety grow ift. high, and are 

 plants of chaste beauty, in both 

 flower and foliage ; flowers in 

 June. G. dianthoides, a showy 

 little plant, 3m. or 4m. high, 

 with lilac flowers ; flowers in July. 

 G. laciniata has deep lavender-blue 

 flowers, borne in July;, only 6in. high; makes a fine bedding 

 plant ; also useful for rockwork and edgings. G. micrantha 

 {Leptosiphon roseus) produces an abundance of brilliant rose- 

 coloured flowers, with slender tubes an inch long; height 9m.; 

 flowers in July; the plant is covered with numerous long, 

 weak hairs. G. micrantha aurea {Leptosiphon aureus) is a good 

 form, with bright golden-yellow flowers. G. nivalis (Snow Queen) 

 is a lovely little plant, 8in. high, bearing snowy-white flowers 

 with golden centres. G. tricolor is a favourite spring- and 

 summer-flowering annual ; the typical form has a yellow flower 

 with a lavender or whitish margin, these colours being separated 

 by a deep purple ring;, it grows from ain. to 12 in. high. There 

 are several pretty forms including alba, with pure white flowers, 



Fig. 120. — Gilia androsacea. 



