3 6 THE BOOK OF CLIMBING PLANTS 



is an ornamental plant, which has the merit of doing 

 well on a rather damp and shady wall, a position for 

 which few climbers of this kind are suitable. The 

 greenish-yellow flowers are less attractive than the 

 cordate leaves, and the moon-shaped seed pods. It 

 can be propagated by cuttings or by division of the 

 root in spring. 



Two very ornamental climbers are left of those 

 deserving notice here. One is the Mutisia, decurrens, 

 a rare and strikingly beautiful twining perennial, with 

 large orange-coloured flowers, and rather lanceolate 

 leaves, terminated by a tendril, being the better of 

 those now referred to. It likes a soil of peat and sand 

 and a shady position, but is somewhat difficult to 

 establish, and those in wet districts will find it an 

 advantage to try a little limestone among the soil. It 

 is safer to secure a plant in a pot, from which it can 

 be turned out with the roots in the ball of soil. 

 Another Mutisia, named M. Clematis, is hardy on a wall 

 in the south only. 



The other is one of the most charming and admired 

 of all herbaceous climbers. This is Tropgeolum 

 speciosum, the Flame Nasturtium, which attracts so 

 much attention from tourists in Scotland, and is in 

 autumn so charming with its bright scarlet flowers and 

 its pretty green foliage. Although it likes a shady 

 position, and a cool, moist, peaty soil, these are not 

 absolutely essential, though it is not likely to thrive 

 well on a dry sunny wall in an arid locality. April 

 is the most suitable time to plant it, and the roots 

 should be firmly trampled into the soil, which may also 

 have a proportion of gravel among it. Plants in pots 

 can also be purchased at a moderate price, and these 

 have a better chance of success than the others. After 

 planting, copious and frequent supplies of water are 

 necessary, and the cultivator need not be disappointed 



