DIPLADENIA . 



323 



DIPLADENIA. 



Among stove climbers few equal Dipladenias for the boldness and brilliancy of their 

 flowers. They give a rich reward for good culture, but are disappointing unless skilfully 

 treated. For exhibition purposes they are greatly valued, well-grown, perfectly 

 flowered specimens invariably gaining a maximum number of merit marks from the 

 judges. 



The most desirable Dipladenias have resulted from crossing such species as D. cras- 

 sinoda with D. splendens, the seedlings obtained combining the good properties of both, 

 further improvements having been effected by intercrossing and seed-saving. D. amabilis 

 produces large rosy-crimson flowers in clusters from May to September. The flowers 

 of D. amoena are pink, suffused with rose. D. Brearleyana is equally floriferous and 

 even more beautiful ; flowers very large, pink when they first open, changing to 

 the richest crimson with age. D. carissima, another garden variety, has soft, delicate 

 blush-pink flowers, while those of D. insignis are rosy purple, and the growth stouter 

 than that of most other varieties. D. splendens profusa bears a general resemblance to 

 D. amabilis ; flowers carmine. In D. splendens Williamsi we have the best of the 

 pinkish-white varieties. D. boliviensis is a distinct species, of a free floriferous habit, 

 and deservedly popular, well-grown plants affording an almost endless supply of blooms 

 for cutting ; flowers seldom more than 2 inches across, white, with a rich yellow throat. 



Dipladenias are chiefly propagated by cuttings of young side shoots taken from 

 newly started plants, and inserted in pots of sandy peat, covered with glass, and given 

 the benefit of brisk bottom heat, or they maybe set on an ash-covered stage, and covered 

 with a bell-glass, a temperature of about 80° being required. Single eyes of firm wood 

 may also be rooted similarly. The young plants first established in small pots are 

 gradually shifted into larger sizes, clean, and extra well-drained, using a mixture of 

 fibrous peat, silver sand, and a little charcoal. For the larger pots the peat ought to be 

 decidedly lumpy, and a little charred soil mixed with it serves to keep the whole sweet, 

 even when weak liquid manure is applied. Dipladenias are not vigorous rooting, and 

 may easily be over-potted, or over-watered, thus making the soil sour when satisfactory 

 progress is impossible. Young plants rarely attain to a flowering size the same season 

 they are rooted, but should be grown strongly, with a view to having as many flowers 

 during the next year as possible. A temperature of 60° to 05° is suitable for resting 

 the plants, giving only sufficient water to keep the wood plump. 



t t 2 



