DWARF-GROWING PLANTS 



Omphalodes. — 0. verna, which bears flowers of an even 

 deeper blue than the Forget-me-not, will grow and 

 bloom even under the shade of evergreens. It should 

 be planted in woods where weeds are few or absent, and 

 will soon make itself at home, its creeping stems spread- 

 ing rapidly over the ground. There is a white variety 

 less worthy of culture than the type. 0. Lucilia, though 

 very beautiful, often proves difficult to establish. 



Opuntia. — Some of the hardier of these do well in dry 

 stony banks, and grow with more vigour if their roots 

 can come across buried hot-bed manure in their descent. 

 Their flowers, which are large and cup-shaped, vary in 

 colour, being yellow, orange, salmon and carmine. Slugs 

 are very fond of the succulent leaves, and must be 

 guarded against. 



Orobus vermis. — A dwarf-growing plant, producing 

 masses of rosy-purple, pea-like flowers in the spring 

 and continuing its display for some weeks. It will grow 

 in any open spot. 



Oxalis jloribunda, — This may be naturalised in a warm 

 sandy spot. It is low-growing, and bears its rosy flowers 

 for months. 



Phlox. — Dwarf perennial species of this family are 

 valuable for rocky banks and sunny exposed sites, where 

 they soon form masses of foliage and flower. P. divari- 

 cata, P. reptans and P. subulata are species, but there are 

 many named varieties that are even more attractive. 



Primula. — Some English woods are so thickly spread 

 with Primroses that at a distance of a quarter of a mile 

 the open glades appear carpeted with pale yellow. Not 

 a wood or coppice in Britain but should gleam with the 

 native Primrose in the spring of the year. Seed should 

 be scattered broadcast wherever the Primrose does not 

 grow. Many other exotic species may be grown in 

 different sites in the wild garden, some thriving best in 

 sandy peat or loam in pockets at the foot of rocks, such 



