PBNTSTEMON 



FOXGLOVE OBDEB 



PENTSTEMON 715 



CuWure do. as above. This species 

 may be grown in the rookery as well as 

 the flower border proper. It is increased 

 by seeds, cuttings, and division. 



P. gracilis. — A slender - stemmed 

 species 1 ft. or less high, with spoon- 

 shaped or oblong leaves, the upper ones 

 mostly linear lance-shaped about 1 in. 

 long. Flowers in August, lilac-purple or 

 whitish, about 1 in. long, tubular funnel- 

 shaped or nearly cylindrical. 



Culture dc. as above. Suitable for 

 the rookery or border. Increased by seeds 

 or cuttings. 



P. grandiflorus. — A distinct and 

 showy species about 3 ft. high, with 

 the upper leaves roundish, stem-clasping, 

 or coimate-perfoliate. Flowers in July, 

 purple, 1^ in. long, the sterile stamen 

 hooked, shortly dilated and scarcely 

 bearded at the apex. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 seeds and cuttings. 



P. Hartwegi (P. gentianoides). — A 

 splendid garden perennial 2-3 ft. high, 

 with smooth bright green lance-shaped 

 leaves, or the upper ones widened and 

 stem-clasping at the base, tapering to a 

 point. Flowers in summer and autumn, 

 scarlet or blood-red, tubular-funnel-shaped, 

 about 2 in. long, with spreading lobes ; 

 sterile stamen beardless. — There are 

 several varieties of this species, and 

 distinctive names like coccineus, 

 cmruleus, and grandifioriis, which ex- 

 plain themselves, have been applied, but 

 a packet of mixed seeds will probably 

 supply them all and many others besides. 

 Many — indeed most — of the garden 

 Pentstemons are supposed to be derived 

 from this species, and fancy names have 

 been given to many of them by florists, to 

 whose catalogues reference may be made. 



Culture dc. as above. P. Hartwegi 

 and its varieties form fine bushes, but wiU 

 not thrive on cold soils. In warm well- 

 drained soils they become perennials and 

 shoot Txp every spring. The first plant of 

 P. Hartwegi to flower in England was at 

 Walworth in September 1837, and was 

 said to have been obtained from Belgium. 



P. heterophyllus. — A somewhat 

 shrubby species about 18 in. high, with a 

 smooth or frosted appearance, and entire 

 linear lanoe-shaped leaves. Flowers in 

 summer, pink or rosy-purple, over 1 in. 

 long, inflated, funnel-shaped above, solitary 



or 2-3 in the axils of the upper leaves, 

 and borne in twiggy racemes. 



Culture dc. as above. This species 

 varies a good- deal when raised from seeds 

 and it is not quite hardy in unfavoured 

 parts of the country. Young plants from 

 seeds or cuttings are therefore safest 

 under the protection of a cold frame in 

 winter. 



P. humilis. — A distinct Rocky 

 Mountain species 3-9 in. high, forming 

 compact tufts, and having more or less 

 Unear lance-shaped leaves. Flowers 

 early in June, large, blue, tinted with 

 reddish-purple, and borne in upright 

 clusters. 



Culture dc. as above. Owing to its 

 dwarf and compact growth this little 

 species is a very desirable plant for the 

 rock garden. It likes a sunny position,, 

 and flourishes in sandy loam and leaf soil,, 

 with plenty of water during the hot 

 summer months. Increased by seeds or 

 cuttings. 



P. jaffrayanus. — A handsome 

 JaKfornian species 12-18 in. high, with 

 glaucous oblong lance-shaped leaves, the 

 lower ones narrowed into a stalk, the 

 upper ones broader and stem-clasping at 

 the base. Flowers in July and August, 

 shortly stalked, 1-2 on each pedicel form- 

 ing an interrupted or irregular cluster 4-8 

 in. long; corolla beatitiiial gentian-blue, 

 bell-shaped, with a very wide tube and 

 reflexed lobes. 



Culture a/nd Propagation. — This 

 pretty species is an excellent border 

 plant, and Hkes a light rich sandy loam. 

 It is best raised annually by means of 

 seeds or cuttings. 



P. Isevigatus. — A vigorous species 2-4 

 ft. high, with somewhat glossy ovate or 

 oblong lance-shaped leaves lobed and 

 clasping at the base. Flowers in summer 

 about 1 in. long, white, tinged with 

 purple, abruptly bell-shaped and inflated 

 above, the sterile stamen being slightly 

 bearded at the apex. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 seeds, cuttings, or divisions. 



P. Lobbi {Lepidostemon pentstemo- 

 noides). — A distinct and bushy Californian 

 species 12-18 in. high, readily recognised 

 by its small oval or elliptic lance-shaped, 

 Box-like leaves. Flowers from July to 

 September, bright orange-yellow, bell- 

 shaped, the upper helmet-shaped lip being 



