374 



THE GAKDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



in masses, either in woodland or beneath deciduous shrubs. 

 The native Bluebell, S. nutans, is particularly effective in 

 woodland or copse, and where in such places it does not 

 grow naturally it should be planted. S. sibirica and 

 S. bifolia are pretty in spring if planted thickly in bare 

 places in the rockery or under shrubs. They may be 

 naturalized in woods, &c, by means of seeds sown broad- 

 cast as soon as ripe, or the bulbs may be planted as if 

 they were Onions in autumn. S. italica is a sweet-scented 

 species which flowers in April. 



S. bifolia. Blue, 6 inches. Asia Minor, Europe (Britain). 

 S. italica. Blue, tinged mauve, 1 foot. South Europe. 

 S. sibirica. Bright-blue, 9 inches. Asia Minor. 

 S. verna. Blue, 9 inches. Western Europe (Britain). 



Sedum (Stone-crop). — An extensive genus, pre- 

 eminently suitable for the rock garden on account of 

 the dwarf and spreading habit of most of the species. 

 Several, however, are good border plants, among them 

 being S. spectabilc, an autumn bloomer, with grayish- 

 green succulent leaves and rosy-purple flowers. Sedums 

 will grow in any place if fully exposed to the sun. They 

 are unequalled for clothing rocks and old walls with 

 picturesque effects. The leaves vary both in colour and 

 shape, while the flowers are usually white, pink, or blue. 



S. Acre. Yellow, 2 inches. Europe (Britain). 



S. album. White, 2 to 3 inches. Europe (Britain). 



S. asiaticum. Reddish-orange, 9 inches. Himalaya. 



S. brevifolium. Gray-green, dwarf. Mediterranean region. 



S. dasyphyllum. White, dwarf. Europe (Britain). 



S. maximum. Steins and leaves purplish, 1 foot. 



S. pulchellum. Purple, U inches. North America. 



S. roxeum. Red, 6 inches. North temperate regions. 



S. Sieboldii. Rose-pink, 6 inches. Japan. 



,, var. variegata. Variegated leaves. 



S. S2)ectabile. Pinkish-purple, li foot. Japan. 

 S. 8toloniferum. Purple, 3 inches. Asia Minor. 



,, Several varieties. 



S. Telephium, and vara. White to purple, 1 to 2 feet. Europe 

 (Britain). 



Sempervivum (House-leek). — A Large genus of succu- 

 lents, the leaves arranged in rosettes, sometimes prettily 

 tinged with red, or with a spider-like webentwined about 

 thetipsof the leaves. They grow well in light Bandy or stony 

 soil on walls or rough parts of the rock garden, and multiply 

 rapidly by means of offsets. The flowers are arranged in 

 (•yincs on flesh}- stems, either deep-reddish colour or yellow. 

 S. calcareum is one of the largest, and is useful for the 

 border as well as the rock garden. S. arachnoideum, the 

 Cobweb House-leek, is a pretty little plant which bears 

 spikes of rose-coloured flowers in summer. 



S. arachnoideum. Tink, 2 inches. Europe. 

 S. calcareum. Pale-red, t> inches. Dauphine. 



Senecio. — A very large genus, many species of which 

 are weeds. There are, however, a few perennials worth 

 including in a good collection of herbaceous plants. S. 

 incamts and S. uu trior us are dwarf silvery-leaved alpine*, 

 somewhat difficult to keep in health on the rockery. S. 

 mac7-ophytlus, from the Caucasus, is a noble foliage plant 

 with large glaucous leaves. It grows well near water, 

 and sends up in autumn tall spikes of yellow flowers. 

 S. japonicus is another of similar character to the last- 

 named, but is not so tall, and has pedately cut leaves. 

 S. pulcher, from South America, has large, handsome, 

 brilliant purplish - crimson flowers with golden centre. 

 Height 2 to 3 feet. 



Shortia. — Two species of beautiful little alpines, 

 which are rare in cultivation. S. nniriora, from Japan, is 

 not so easily grown as the North American S. galacifolia 

 (fig. 464). The leaves of the latter assume in autumn a 



lovely crimson and green colour. The flowers, produced 

 in early summer, are of a pearly whiteness. They grow 

 best in shady positions, in a mixture of peat and sand. 

 The leaves are ovate, shining-green, somewhat rigid, and 



Fig. 464.— Shortia galacifolia. 



the campanulate flowers are borne singly on stalks about 

 6 inches high. 



Sidalcea. — Handsome plant of the Mallow order, most 

 of the species having satiny white and pink flowers in 

 pyramidal heads 2 to 3 feet high. They make pretty 

 plants for the border or rockery, and thrive in ordinary 

 soil. Propagation by seeds. 



S. Candida. White, 3 feet. New Mexico. 



S. Listeri. Pink, 3 feet. Garden origin. 



S. malvoeflora. Rose-pink, 2A feet. North-west America. 



Silene (Catchfly). — This genus contains some good 

 dwarf Alpines of easy culture and very effective in the 

 rock garden, besides many which are difficult to deter- 

 mine apart, and which are worthless from a garden point 

 of view. They flower in summer and autumn and are 

 easily propagated from seeds. 



S. acaulis. Rose-pink, 2 inches. Northern regions. 



S. alpestris. White, 4 inches. Alps. 



S. maritima. White, trailer. Europe (Britain). 



S. pumilio. Rose, 4 inches. Tyrol, etc. 



S. quadrifida. White, 4 inches. Europe. 



S. Schafta. Deep-rose, 5 inches. Caucasus. 



Silphium. — Robust yellow-flowered Composites, not 

 unlike the large Sunflowers, flourishing in any soil, and 

 very effective for jilanting in masses, either among shrubs 

 or in the wild garden. Propagation by seeds. 



S. laciniatum. Yellow, 9 feet. North America. 



S. 2)erfoliatum. Bright-yellow, 4 feet. North America. 



S. terebinthaceum. Yellow, 5 feet. North America. 



Soldanella.— A charming alpine genus belonging to 

 Primulaceae. The leaves are roundish, thick, dark-green, 

 and leathery, the flowers, which are lilac or purple in 

 colour, bell-shaped, and beautifully fringed, being produced 

 on stalks 6 inches high. A very moist, shady situation is 

 their chief requirement, a mixture of peat, loam, and sand 

 suiting them well. 



S. alpina. Pale-purple, 4 to 6 inches. Alps. 



S. pyrolcefolia. Purple, 6 inches. Alps. 



Spigelia marilandica (Indian Pink). — A North Ameri- 

 can plant, delighting in moist boggy situations. It haa 



