250 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



large pure white flowers, which during the day are partially 

 closed, but in the evening open, and emit a delicious fragrance- 

 they are produced from July onwards. JSf. atropurpuna 

 grandiflora grows 5ft. high, and has reddish-purple flowers. 

 N. wigandioides (Fig. 139) is a stately plant, growing 5ft. high, and 

 is especially suitable for sub-tropical bedding ; it has immense 



handsome leaves and 

 yellowish-white flowers, 

 produced in large 

 drooping panicles., 



Nycteeinia (Zaluzi- 

 anskia) selaginoides, 

 4in. high, is a charming 

 little plant for pots, 

 edgings, or rockwork. 

 The seed may either 

 be sown under glass in 

 March, or in the open 

 air in April. It bears 

 clusters of star shaped 

 flowers in May — white, 

 with a yellow eye, very frag- 

 rant at night. N. capensis 

 has white flowers with brown 

 eyes ; it is like the last-men- 

 tioned species in habit and 

 stature. 



Phlox Drummondii (Fig. 

 140) is certainly one of the 

 best of our half-hardy an- 

 nuals, producing an abund- 

 ance of flowers of various 

 hues, commencing in July 

 and continuing a blaze of beauty until cut off by the late 

 autumn frosts. It may be either grown in beds by itself, 

 or used as a carpeting plant for other taller-growing 

 subjects, such as Standard Roses, &c. The seed should be 

 sown early in March, in a gentle heat, and the seedlings 

 planted out in May or June. There are now numerous 

 varieties, varying in the colour of their flowers from white to 

 purple, and growing about ift. in height ; the variety cuspidata 

 and its named forms grow only 6in. high, and produce - white, 

 rose, red, violet, and scarlet flowers. 



Portulacas are brilliantly-coloured annuals, requiring a dry, 

 warm, sunny situation, and a light soil ; they are excellent 

 for small beds, rockwork, and for edgings. P. grandiflora (Sun 

 Plant) grows 6in. high, and in June and July produces its flowers 



[Fig. 140. — Phlox Drummondii. 



