LIST OF GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



537 



Humea elcgans. — A biennial composite with scented 

 leaves and large erect terminal plumes of gray flowers. 

 Seeds should be sown in sandy soil in July, and the plants 

 grown on throughout winter and spring. In March the 

 stems will begin to elongate, and by July the plumes of 

 flowers, often 8 feet high, will be at their best. They 

 last for several months. Australia. 



Hydrangea Hortensia is often treated as an annual in 

 gardens. Cuttings are rooted in autumn, kej^t in a cold 

 frame all winter, and put into heat in early spring. 

 Flower-buds develop after the fourth pair of leaves, 

 when the plants must be well fed. Heads 9 to 12 inches 

 through may be grown on plants in 5 -inch pots. By 

 using iron or coal-dust with the soil a blue shade is im- 

 parted to the bracts. Two of the most distinct varieties 

 are : alba, pure white, and Mariesi, large, red. Japan. 

 H. petiolaris (scandens) is a Japanese climber of Ivy-like 

 habit with white flowers, and is good for clothing pillars 

 or walls. 



lochroma. — Tropical American herbs, related to 

 Solanum ; leaves ovate, flowers bright - coloured and 

 tubular. Cuttings. Should be stood outside and grown 

 along with Chrysanthemums during summer. They flower 

 in August and September. Loam and manure. 



I. coccinea. Long, tubular, scarlet flowers. 



/. fuchsioides. Orange-scarlet flowers in pendulous racemes. 



I. grandiflora. Blue, should be grown in small pots. 



J. lanceolata. Blue, narrower leaves than the preceding. 



Ixia. — South African bulbs of easy culture. Should be 

 grown in a sunny house or frame, starting them in Octo- 

 ber. They require to be rested dry after the foliage withers. 

 The star-shaped flowers, often brilliantly coloured, are 

 borne on elegant scapes well above the leaves. There are 

 many named sorts, including 7. Jlexuosa, pink ; I. inacu- 

 lata, orange ; /. monadelpha, blue ; 1. speciosa, red ; and 

 1. viridiflora, green. 



Jasminum. — Evergreen or deciduous shrubs, several 

 of which are suitable for the warm greenhouse. J. gracil- 

 limum from Borneo, with ovate leaves and loose heads of 

 fragrant white flowers, and J. grandijlorum, of more bushy 

 habit, are to be recommended ; the former for a sunny 

 warm corner of the conservatory. Loam and peat. 



Kennedya. — Australian climbers with racemes of Pea- 

 shaped flowers. Loam and peat. Spring. 



K. nigricans, black and yellow flowers and ternate leaves; a 

 strong climber. 



K. prostrata (Marry attce), with scarlet flowers, is a beautiful 

 free climber, which forms a screen or curtain if trained along 

 a rafter and the shoots allowed to hang. 



K. rubicuada is a strong grower with red flowers. 



Lagerstrcemia indica. — A deciduous shrub with the 

 habit of a Privet, and producing large racemes of pink 

 flowers in summer. If planted out in a large sunny house, 

 it is easily managed and flowers freely. After flowering 

 it requires no water until growth recommences in spring. 

 In January all growths should be pruned to within an eye 

 or two of the old wood. There are varieties with white, 

 red, and purple flowers. Loam. Cuttings or seeds. India. 



Lantana.— Small bushy soft-wooded plants with heads 

 of red, yellow, orange or white Verbena -like flowers. 

 Propagated by cuttings. Although usually grown to 

 flower in winter, they flower freely at any time. Loam. 



Lapageria rosea and its variety alba are Chilian 

 climbers with tough, ovate leaves and large tubular, fleshy, 

 pendulous flowers, well known as greenhouse climbers. 

 They succeed in a shaded house, in a mixture of sandy 

 rough peat and charcoal, which should be well drained so 



that water may be given freely. Philageria Veitchii, 

 raised from L. rosea and Philesia, buxifolia, is an interest- 

 ing bigeneric hybrid. 



Lathyrus splendens, "Pride of California", is a first- 

 rate perennial climber for a sunny greenhouse. It has 

 crimson flowers as large as those of a sweet Pea. in 

 racemes of from three to seven. Loam and peat. 



Leptospermum. — Australian Myrtle-like shrubs 

 with starry -white or yellowish flowers. They require 

 sandy peat pressed very firm to induce stunted growth. 

 During summer they must be plunged outside in full sun. 



Fig. 654.— Leptospermum scoparium. 



Of the ten cultivated species, L. scoparium (fig. 654). 

 with small leaves and white flowers J inch across, and 

 its variety grandijlorum, with larger flowers, are the 

 best known. 



Libertia formosa and L. ixioides are white -flowered 

 Irids, of Iris-like habit, from Australia, New Zealand, 

 and Chili. The flowers are borne well above the foliage 

 in upright panicles. They thrive alike in pots or borders. 

 Loam. 



Lippia (Aloysia) citriodora. — The "Scented Verbena" 

 is cultivated largely for its sweet-smelling leaves. The 

 flowers are small and whitish, in large terminal panicles. 

 S. America. Loam. Cuttings. 



Lonicera. — One species is useful in the greenhouse. 

 viz. L. sempervirens, which produces whorls of scarlet 

 and yellow flowers 1^ inch long, nearly the whole of the 

 year. Z. Hildebrandiana, from Burma, one of the 

 strongest of indoor climbers, has apricot-coloured flowers 

 6 inches long s but is a shy flowerer. Loam. 



i_otus Bcrtholetii (pcliorhi/nchus), a Canary Island 

 species, makes long pendent shoots clothed with linear 

 gray leaves, and bears scarlet flowers 1 inch long. An 

 excellent plant for baskets. Peat. 



