Mat 4, 1912 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



359 



or more, 

 tower above 



LUPINUS POLYPHYLLUS. 



Lupinus polyphylliis is an old-fashioned 

 garden plant of fairest repute. Often 

 grown under adverse conditions^to which 

 the plant is entirely indifferent — it becomes 

 when fairly established^ one of the most 

 reliable subjects among herbaceous plants, 

 and is withal a plant of striking effect. 

 Growing to a height of 3ft. or more, the 

 stately spikes of blue flow 

 the handsome foliage, so that it commands 

 instant attention from June till August. 

 Although a meritorious plant, even for the 

 choicest borders, it is in wnld garden plant- 

 ing that Lupinus polyphyllus merit* the 

 highest praise, its adaptability to varying 

 conditions, its hardiness, and extreme flori- 

 ferousness commending it for such posi- 

 tions, while in woodland planting generally 

 and the bolder kinds of water gardens, 

 there are usually positions that invite suc- 

 cess wath this sterling subject. 



It succeeds in most soils, provided the 

 position is well drained, as stagnant water 

 is the chief danger to guard against. Little 



preparation of the ground is necessary, be- 

 yond trenching and manuring ; the former 

 should be performed in a thorough manner 

 bearing in mind, especially in woodland 

 planting, that once the plants are estab- 

 lished, they have generally to look after 

 themselves. 



The type is the best plant for shrubbery 

 and woodland planting ; it varies to some 

 extent from seeds, but the colour is usually 

 8ome shade of blue or purple-blue. The 

 white perennial Lupinus polyphyllus albus 

 also succeeds under similar conditions, and 

 it is one of the most distinct white-fiowered 

 perennials. By using it sparingly with the 

 coloured forms, its own beauty gains in 

 impressiveness, while the contrast ob- 

 tained accentuates the others. The variety 

 roseus is esteemed for border planting, the 

 colour is rose-pink^ passing to a deeper 

 shade. This varies somewhat from seeds, 

 a fact of little moment in wild gardening, 

 as the colour harmony is all one can desire, 

 but for borders it is often desirable that 

 the seedlings should first be flowered in re- 

 serve, and the best examples marked for 

 future guidance in permanent planting. 



Several of the coloured forms of Lupinus 

 polyphyllus have been selected and given 

 distinctive names by trade growers, an ad- 

 vantage that readily appeals where borders 

 are required to be planted to colour. Of 



these the most distinct include 

 Prince 



tress 



Dusky 



, flowers dark purple-blue; Enchan- 

 gi'^y-l^l^ie ; Purple Queen, immense 

 spikes of rich purple-blue and white flowers. 

 Lupinus Moerheimi is a striking variety, 

 with spikes of soft rose and white flowers ; 

 It is less robust in habit than the others, 

 Its distinctive merit being that of a first- 

 elass border flower. 



Between Lupinus polyphyllus and the 

 shnibby species, L. arlx)reus, occur several 

 nybnd forms, the flowers 



in- 



, . in several 



Ih^^ ^ing yelloAv, a colour absent among 

 the herbaceous forms ; in the variety 

 ^merset the flowers are of a clear yellow 

 tint^; The Bride is soft primrose with a 

 ^ush of rose, and Daisy Hill has blue and 

 Juac tiowers carried in the greatest profu- 



^^^^^ iiybrid forms are of semi- 

 snrubby growth, and are speciallv adapte<l 

 light soils and somewhat arid condi- 



, Thomas Smith. 



'-oombe Court Gardens. 



for 



THE PENNYWORT. 



What is regarde<l in many places as a 

 weed becomes a plant of interest, per- 

 chance of beauty, in another country, or 

 in another part of the same country. It 

 is strange how, even in our own land, cei- 

 tain native plants are found in profusion in 

 one district, whereas they must be sown, or 

 transplanted, ere they become established 

 in another district. The Pennywort, 



a heavy veil of light green succulent 

 leaves. The drooping, cylindrical flow^ers 

 are closely set upon the erect spikes, and 

 their colour is yellowish-green. 



Xow that wall gardening is a feature in 

 many establishments, it is worth while to 

 consider the claims of any native ]:)lants 

 that appear to be adapted by Nature for 

 this particular method of cultivation. The 

 ])opular and beautiful stonecrop receives 

 the consideration it deserves, but the 



.in 



interesting 



men 



THE PENNYWORT (COTYLEDON UMBILICUS). 



British plant, bearing erect^spikes of greenish-yellow flowers, 

 illuetrated was growing in a wall near Harlech, North ^^ ales. 



The speci- 



'^"'"'re and management of vines in 



t^'^P?r.'^"'*'^''?^ open air is published at 



S^rlt t'^^^ Magazine Office, 148, Aldersgate 

 ,un,l ■ ""^^o"' price Is. net (by post Is. 2d.), or 

 'rtillT "'^^^^ ^f- (by post L 8d.). Full 

 1 I .V"^ .^^^ K^^'en as to renovating old 

 "es, and the best varieties to grow. 



Ck)tvledon umbilicus, is a case m jjoint. 

 Speaking broadlv, it is a western plant, 

 and is found from Argj'll to Cornwall, 

 sometimes ascending to a height of l.OOOft. 

 in Wales, and yet it cannot be found wild 

 An illustrated guide ^^ny an eastern county In some parts 



. _r of Wales it is quite plentiful, while m 



South Devon one may often see it. The 



writer remembers a long lane at Mutley, 

 near Plymouth, where, on a rocky bank, 



, 1 . _i — possession 



pennywort has hardly received attention 

 yet in this direction, though, as the illus- 

 tration shows, it is well worthy of .such con- 

 sideration. As the plant has a tuberous 

 root stock, the best method ot establi.^liing 

 it would seem to }ye that of s*^d sowing 

 on the spot. The rounded, radical leaves, 

 each with a depressed centre, have sug- 

 geetwi respectively the popular names of 

 pennywort and navelwort. but not all the 

 eave^ are of this sliape. as tlio cauhnc 



tne pennywort tias taKen iwjss^sMuu ui TT^TTiT Lv.. ^i/ntliul in^ 



available space, covering ^il and rocks witii ones are more or Uw. .pathulaU . 



