ON HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. 



271 



suitable for almost any position, being very effective in mixed 

 borders, shrubberies, and sub-tropical and wild gardens, whilst the 

 flower-heads are prized for winter decoration ; they prefer a 

 deep sandy soil, and are propagated by either seeds or 

 division. E. alpinum grows from 2ft. to 3ft. high, and forms 

 a distinct and noble border plant, with spiny foliage ; the 

 involucres and bracts are deeply cut, and together with the 

 flower-heads and upper portion of the stems are of a glistening 

 metallic-blue colour. E. giganteum (Ivory Thistle) (Fig. 155) 

 grows from 2 ft. to 4ft. high, and flowers during July and 

 August ; the stems, leaves, 

 and bracts are of a shining 

 white colour, and the whole 

 plant is rigid and spiny. E. 

 Oliverianum is a beautiful 

 plant, 3ft. high, having hand- 

 some laciniated foliage and 

 large heads of bluish flowers, 

 produced during July, August, 

 and September ; the bracts, 

 &c, are also blue. 



Gaillardias are exceed- 

 ingly handsome border plants, 

 having large showy flowers, 

 which are much valued for 

 the making of bouquets and 

 the decoration of vases. They 

 may be propagated by either 

 seeds, cuttings, or division. 

 G. aristata bears large yellow 

 flowers during August, and 

 attains a height of i8in. 

 The varieties grandiflora and 

 maxima are strong-growing 

 plants with larger flowers than 

 the type. An endless variety 

 of named sorts are now sent 

 out by nurserymen, and in point of beauty these far exceed 

 the plants mentioned above. A selection of these will be found 

 in the "Appendix." 



Galega officinalis compacta is a neat-growing perennial, 

 attaining a height of from 2ft. to 3ft. It is a free-flowering 

 plant, producing numerous racemes of pea-shaped lilac-coloured 

 flowers from July to September. 



i% Geums are showy perennials suitable for the mixed border ; 

 the flowers are very rich in colour, and are excellent for cutting 

 purposes. Propagation is effected by seeds or by division. 



Fig. 155. — Eryngium giganteum. 



