ON HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. 279 



purple, or white flowers during August. P. pilosa is an elegant 

 species, growing from i2in. to i8in. high, and bearing lilac-purple 

 flowers on slender, erect stems, during May and June. The 

 genus is one which has lent itself admirably to the hand 

 of the hybridist, with the result that we have now an 

 endless variety of " florists' " forms, derived chiefly from P. 

 metadata, P. paniculata, and P. glaberrima suffruticosa. 

 Some excellent kinds are : Avalanche, white, 2 ft. ; Leonardo 

 da Vinci, white, 2^ft. ; Jourdan, rose-pink, i-gft. ; William 

 Robinson, cerise, 3ft. ; Etna, orange-red, 2ft. ; Moliere, salmon- 

 pink, 2ft. : Eugene Danzanvilliers, soft lilac, ift. For a more 

 extended list, see "Appendix." 



Phygelius capensis (Cape Figwort) is an attractive plant, 

 growing 2|ft. high, and producing tubular scarlet flowers on 

 pyramidal spikes during August and September. Increased by 

 seeds or by cuttings. Prefers a sheltered situation. 



Physalis is a small genus containing two or three ornamental 

 perennials suitable for growing in the front of the herbaceous 

 border. They are easily increased by division. P. Alkekengi 

 (Winter Cherry, or Chinese Lantern) grows from i2in. to 

 i8in. high, and bears numerous inconspicuous white flowers, 

 succeeded in autumn by scarlet berries, enclosed in the inflated 

 orange-scarlet calyx. P. Franchetti is a very ornamental species, 

 taller growing than P. Alkekengi, and producing a larger bladder- 

 like calyx of a bright orange-red colour. The fruits enclosed in 

 the inflated calyx are useful for winter decoration when they are 

 cut and dried. 



Polemoniums are free-flowering plants, suitable for border or 

 rock-culture, and are readily propagated by seeds or by division. 

 P. cceruhum, commonly known as Jacob's Ladder, grows from 

 ift. to 2ft. high, and bears heads of blue flowers from May to 

 July. Several varieties are now grown, including one with 

 variegated foliage, and another with white flowers. P. himalay- 

 anum is a bold-growing plant, 2ft. high, having fern-like foliage, 

 and large heads of azure-blue flowers with yellow eyes. 

 P. reptans is a neat-growing species, 6in. to i2in. high, 

 with a creeping rootstock ; it has graceful foliage, and pro- 

 duces an abundance of pale blue flowers during' April and 

 May. 



Polygonums are plants of easy culture in ordinary garden 

 soil, and are readily increased by division. P. polystachyum 

 is a strong-growing species, reaching a height of 5ft., and 

 having fragrant white flowers; it is suitable for naturalising 

 in the shrubbery or wild garden. P. vaccinifolium is a 

 trailing species ; it produces long spikes of rose-coloured flowers 

 in the autumn. 



