PLANTS FOR POOR SOILS 183 



that in full summer assume a splendid richness of 

 reddish-bronze, while the long succession of its ex- 

 tremely abundant bloom makes it one of the best 

 of the family for the more important portions of the 

 garden. Cistus is so closely related to Helianthemum, 

 and their uses are so nearly identical, that the men- 

 tion of Helianthemum naturally follows. They thrive 

 under the same conditions of poor soil and full sun- 

 shine ; they are mostly lower of stature, the leaves 

 smaller and greyer, and though H. algarvensis has 

 an upright way of growth, and against a wall will 

 rise some feet, yet their more usual habit is that of 

 low bushes, some quite trailing. H. formosiim (as 

 often known as Cistus formosus) is a capital plant in 

 my garden. The yellow flowers are large, and so 

 abundant that the whole small bush shows brightly 

 from a distance. H. halimifolium has an almost 

 prostrate habit ; foliage also grey, and bloom abundant. 

 These are the only ones with yellow flowers, except 

 our small native Rock-rose, that I know well. H. 

 rosmarinifolium is a beautiful dwarf bush, suited for 

 a sunny place in the front of the choicest shrub-bank. 

 Its leaves are small and narrow, Rosemary-shaped, 

 and dark in colour ; its many small flowers are milk- 

 white, of delicate texture, and extremely fugacious. 

 Then there are the many species and garden varieties 

 of the branches of the family that our common wild 

 one (JETeliantheimtm vulgar e) may be taken to repre- 

 sent ; with flowers of many colours, red, rosy pink. 



