l 2,2 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



WATER-LILIES AT WISLEY. 



The flowers are wonderfully brilliant, especially fulgens, 

 its cupped petals intense crimson, shaded magenta, with 

 deep garnet stamens ; lilacea, rose lilac, very delicate 

 colour ; purpurata, carmine rose and orange red stamens ; 

 Rosea, a strong-growing kind, the flowers opening soft 

 pink, which deepens to quite a rose shade ; and lucida, 

 vermilion tinged with rose. 

 N. Odorata is SO named because of its deli ate yet 

 powerful fragrance. This is worth planting in every 

 lake, the flowers large and pure white, with a pink tinge 

 upon the tips of the petals. Of this species there are 

 several varieties, such as Exquisita, very deep colour, an 

 intense rose carmine ; gigantea, while, but scentless ; 

 rosea, pink and fragrant ; rubra, deep rose purple ; and 

 sulphurea, deep sulphur yellow, sweetly scented, and a 

 noble Water-lily, which bears its flowers about 6in. 

 above the water, the leav es w ith brow nish mottlings ; 

 grandiflora is a large form of it. 



Hybrid Water-lilies are now numerous, and the set 

 to which Marliac has given his name is as beautiful a; 

 any. The most splendid to make a beginning with — 

 but the lake must be fairly large, because their growth is 

 very vigorous — are N. Marliacea albida, a noble, fragrant 

 flower, fully loin, across, and dazzling white ; Carnea, 

 very vigorous, soft pink in colour, Vanilla scented, very 

 free and bold, a counterpart of the former except in 

 colour ; Chromatella, a beautiful canary yellow flower, 

 very sweet — no hardy Nymphsea is more beautiful than 

 this, and its big handsome blooms appear for many 

 weeks ; Flammea is of a reddish purple tone, and Ignea 

 extremely brilliant, red magenta against orange red 

 stamens. 



Very beautiful Water-lilies are N. Robinsoni, a 

 splendid hybrid for colour, yellow and purple mingling, 

 a rich effect in the summer ; N. spha;rocarpa, carmine, 

 orange stamens : N. tuberosa, large white fragrant 

 flowers and bold leaves ; and the rosy-coloured Rosea 

 and N. pygma:a, which is the pigmy of the whole race, 

 a little jewel, as pure as driven snow, and suliiciently 



small to place in a tub, tank, or by the margin of the lake. 

 Such a form as this must not fie associated with strong- 

 growing Nymphseas. Helveola is a sweet flower, of a 

 pretty canary yellow colour, and brown mottlings upon 

 the leaves. In a good collection there should also be 

 the pale rose-tinted Aurora Caroliniana, flesh colour, 

 and its w hite form nivea ; flava, a pretty citron yellow ; 

 fulva, yellow touched with red, and two kinds ol 

 wonderful colouring, in both instances the flowers of a 

 brilliant carmine purple, but in Ellisiana rather paler 

 than in gloriosa. M. Latour Marliac describes it as 

 "bright currant red; the fiery orange colour of the 

 stamens has a very fine effect." Gloriosa is a handsome 

 kind; to use the French hybridist's words, '■ a floating 

 scented flower 7in. in diameter, very double, and of 

 perfect form ; currant red washed with rose white at the 

 tips of the lower petals ; stamens rich red. The only 

 Water-lily which has regularly five sepals.'' Sanguinea 

 is rich amaranth, its stamens deep orange ; and in 

 Seignoureti they are "medium sized, rising from 5m. 

 to bin. from the water, shaded with pink and carmine on 

 a ground of pale yellow ; leaves marbled with brown on 

 the stem, and streaked with red-brown underneath."' 



An ideal place for the Water-lilies is a calm lake or 

 pond, sheltered yet not overshadowed by trees, and not 

 peopled with water-rats, water-fowl, or swans. In such 

 a place as this the plants will grow into broad groups, and 

 the surrounding leafage will intensify the flower colouring. 

 The flowers may be cut for the house, and create a distinct 

 and beautiful form of decoration. Reflex the segments to 

 prevent the bloom closing, and gather quite young flowers, 

 those not more than a day old, and float them in ample 

 water. 



Rats are frequently very troublesome, and may be shot 

 or trapped, and water-fowl must be closely watched. If 

 one wishes for Nymphseas upon the water's surface 

 animal life in a large measure is impossible. A spacious 

 lake is not needful, for in any quiet pond where the water 

 is from 2h. to 3ft. deep the Nymphaeas will succeed. 



