86 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



attains a height of 12 to 18 inches, has handsome 

 fern-like foliage and reddish purple flowers in 

 drooping racemes. D. spectabilis (Lyre flower), the 

 best-known species, is taller growing and very flori- 

 ferous. Colour rosy red ; light rich soil. Division. 

 Digitalis (Foxglove). — Beautiful in masses in woodland 

 sceneiy, the wild species in semi-shady spots, and 

 the choicer spotted forms in more conspicuous 

 positions. Easily raised from seeds, in May. Grow 

 the plants thinly in open positions, and replant in 

 the autumn. 



DoRONiCUM (Leopard's Bane). — These early flowering 

 herbaceous plants are all yellow in colour, and 

 easily grown. D. altaicum, D. austriacum, and 

 D. caucasicum are suitable for the front rows, D. 

 plantagineum and D. pardalianches growing 

 more strongly, sometimes attaining a height of 

 3 feet. Division. 



Epilobium (Willow Herb). — In masses these are re- 

 markably effective, and easily established in woods 

 or alongside water-courses and ponds. E. angusti- 

 folium, crimson, and E. a. album, white, attain a 

 height of 3 to 5 feet, and are the most desirable 

 species. E. liirsutum, the common British form, 

 also grows to a height of 3 to 5 feet, and is very 

 showy. Division. 



Eryngiums (Sea Holly). — These noble plants are par- 

 ticularly well adapted for the wild garden. Some 

 of the best species for the purpose are E. alpinum, 

 2 to 3 feet ; E. amethystinum, 2 to 3 feet ; and E. 

 giganteum, 2^ feet. Succeed in a light, dry soil. 

 Division and seed. 



Ferns. — British ferns are ideal plants for dells and 

 woodlands. Athyriums require good loamy soil 

 and a moist position. Blechum spicant in variety 

 succeeds best in a mixture of loam and peat, and 

 may have sunny positions. Cystopteris fragilis 

 prefers shade and dry stony ground. Lastrsea 

 filix-mas varieties are not particular as to soil and 

 hear exposure. Lastrea cristata, L. spinulosa 

 and L. dilatata varieties enjoy rich loam with leaf 

 soil and a shady bank. L. montana and L. thelyp- 

 teris a damp, cool position. Osmunda regalis and 

 Polypodium alpestre thrive best in peat and loam 

 in a moist situation. Polypodiums dryopteris, 

 phegopteris, and Robertianum require shade. 

 Polypodium vulgare in variety like a dry situation 

 with stiff clay soil and stones to cling to. Poly- 

 stichum aculeatum and P. angulare in variety plant 

 in loamy soil with stones in partial shade. Scolo- 

 pendrium vulgare in variety should have a mix- 

 ture of good loam and peat or leaf soil, and a well- 

 drained site. Division and shores. 



FuNKiA (Plantain Lilies). Hardy, fleshy -rooted 

 plants suitable for planting near walks, where the 

 bold foliage and flowers will he seen to the best 

 advantage. F. Fortunei, F. coerulea, F. Sieboldi, 

 F. grandiflora and alba are effective. Division. 



Geranium (Crane's Bill). — All the hardy herbaceous 

 geraniums are admirably adapted for planting 

 alongside woodland walks, where they soon 

 become established. Some of the best are G. 

 cinereum, G. lancastriense, G. ibericum, and G. 

 pratense album. Division and seeds. 



Helianthus (Sunflower). — The herbaceous species are 

 easily established in rough places, spreading 

 rapidly and flowering grandly during the summer. 

 H. decapetalus and the multiflorus forms are 

 among the best, attaining a height of from 3 feet 

 to 4 feet. 



Helleborus (Christmas and Lenten Roses). — Though 

 not often seen in the wild garden or in sheltered 

 sites generally, they are yet well suited to these 

 positions. The earliest to flower are the Christmas 

 roses or H. niger, and the superior forms H. n. 

 angustifolius, H. n. major, and H. n. maximus, 

 while good representatives of the Lenten rose 

 section are H. guttatus in variety, H. viridis, H. 

 orientalis, of which also there are several forms, 

 and H. punctatus, a hybrid. Good garden soil 

 and manure. (See coloured plate of these flowers.) 

 Division and seeds. 



Heracleum (Cow-parsnip). — Too coarse for the culti- 

 vated garden, heracleums are yet to be recom- 

 mended for the wild garden, as they present a 

 stately sub-tropical appearance viewed from a dis- 

 tance or in the openings that occur. H. giganteum, 

 synonym H. villosum, attains a height of 9 to 12 

 feet, and H. sibiricum 5 to 6 feet. Seeds or 

 division. 



Hypericums. — Most of the hypericums grow and flower 

 abundantly in woods, while the best known of the 

 family, H. calycinum, or St. John's Wort, spreads 

 rapidly, quickly clothing dry banks with growth 

 which, during the flowering period, presents 

 a gay appearance. Division, cuttings, and 

 seeds. 



Polygonatcm (Solomon's Seal). — These old-fashioned 

 border plants succeed admirably in shady wood- 

 lands, and should be extensively planted. Divi- 

 sion. 



Polygonum (Knot Weed). — Both P. cuspidatum and 

 P. sachalinense are well suited to the wild garden. 

 The former attains a height of from 4 feet to 8 feet, 

 and the latter grows still taller, both branching 

 strongly. 



