512 



PBACTIGAL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS heliopsis 



ZINNIA. — A genus eontaining about 

 12 species of annual or perennial herbs 

 or sub-shrubs, with opposite or verticillate, 

 sessile or stem-clasping entire leaves. 

 Flower-heads solitary, stalked, at the tips 

 or forks of the branches. Involucre bell- 

 shaped, or somewhat cylindrical; bracts 

 in 3 or more rows ; receptacle conical or 

 cylindrical. Bay florets strap-shaped; 

 disc florets tubular, shortly 5-oleft. 

 Achenes narrow, striped, smooth or hairy 

 at the angles. 



Culture and Propagation. — Zinnias 

 when well grovm are charming plants for 

 the flower garden, in groups by themselves 

 or massed with other plants. They like 

 a rich loamy soil and sunny situations. 

 Being mostly annuals they must be 

 raised from seeds every yeaj. About the 

 middle of March is the best time to sow 

 in gentle heat. It is a mistake to sow 

 too early, as the plants become too weak 

 and lanky before the planting- out time 

 in Jtme arrives. The seedlings should be 

 pricked off when large enough to handle, 

 and should be gradually hardened off in 

 cooler and lightsome places. Both single 

 and double varieties are worth growing, 

 although the latter are somewhat dwarfer 

 and more compact in habit. 



The Zinnias are all natives of 

 America — chiefly Mexico. 



Z. elegans. — A hairy-stemmed annual 

 1^2 ft. high, with heart-shaped, ovate, 

 stem-clasping leaves, and flowers varying 

 in colour from scarlet to crimson, rose, 

 buif, or white. 



From this species most of the garden 

 Zinnias have been evolved by careful 

 selection and hybridisation, and they 

 possess some very fine colours, such as 

 blood-red, orange-scarlet, rosy-carmine, 

 deep yellow, vermUion &c. Among the 

 named varieties miay be mentioned : 

 coccimea, scarlet; Da/rwvni, with very 

 double flowers ; fiore plena, violaeea, 

 gloriosa. There are also miniature 

 Pompon varieties about 6 in. high, suit- 

 able for edgings &c. 



Culture do. as above. 



Z. haageana. — Similar in habit to 

 2. elegans, but with brilliant orange or 

 yellow flower-heads. Flore plena is a 

 fine double-flowered variety ; and pumila 

 flore plena is a dwarf kind about 6 in. 

 high, with elegant double golden-yellow 

 flowers striped with orange. 



Other varieties known as grcmdiflora 



and zehrina are choice garden forms, the 

 latter having beautifully striped double 

 flowers. Many other names will be 

 found in catalogues, but a packet of good 

 mixed seed wiU give all the colours 

 desired. Other names, for Z. haageana 

 are Z. mexicana and Z. a/urea. 

 Culture dc. as above. 



Z. multiflora {Z. verticillata). — A 

 bushy and rather hairy Mexican annual 

 lJ-2 ft. high, with oval or oblong lance- 

 shaped leaves. Flower-heads small, with 

 deep red obovate rosy florets in the type. 

 There is however a form with yellow 

 florets. 



Culture dc. as above. This species is 

 not of great garden value, and with it 

 may be classed Z. pa/uciflora, also a 

 Mexican annual, with yellow flower- 

 heads, having a deep dull red centre. 



SANVITALIA.— A genus with a few 

 species of annual or perennial herbs, 

 having opposite entire leaves, and yellow 

 or whitish flower-heads. Bracts of the 

 involucre in 2-3 series. Eeceptacle flat 

 or convex. Achenes smooth, those of the 

 disc crowned with a pappus of 3 bristles. 



S. procumbens. — A pretty Mexican 

 annual with trailing branches and ovate 

 entire leaves. Flowers in summer, like 

 those of a small Budbeckia, brjght yellow, 

 with a dark purplish disc. The double- 

 flowered variety flore plena is showier 

 than the type, with wholly yellow 

 flowers. 



Cultwre and Prapagatian. — This is 

 the only species in cultivation. Owing to 

 its dwarf compact growth it looks well in 

 masses at the edges of borders, or trailing 

 over the sides of baskets. It thrives in 

 sandy loam and peat, and seeds may be 

 sown in autumn for spring flowering, or 

 in March and April for late summer 

 flowering. For the general treatment of 

 annuals see p. 78. 



HELIOPSIS. — A genus containing a 

 few species of rather pretty annuals and 

 perennials, with usually opposite stalked 

 leaves (upper ones rarely alternate) and 

 large yellow flower-heads. The annuals 

 are rarely seen, and the perennials may be 

 grown and increased as in the case of the 

 perennial Sunflowers. 



H. canescens {Helianthus cordatus). 

 A bushy Peruvian annual 2-3 ft. high, 

 with downy stems, and grey-green opposite 

 heart-shaped acute leaves with coarsely 



