PERENNIALS AND CALIFORNIA BULBS 
25 
PETASITES japonicus, or Coltsfoot, is one of the finest of the very large-leaved 
plants. From a running rootstock immense heart-shaped leaves are grown on stalks 
3 to 4 feet high, making a colony of the great leaves. With a background of shrubs 
it is very effective. Sit., sun or light shade. PL, winter. Prop, runners. Soil, deep 
rich, loose and moist. 50 cts. each. 
Perennial Phlox 
The Perennial Phlox most commonly known are all forms of Phlox paniculata or 
P. decussata. They are among the very best perennial plants known for midsummer 
effects and especially in bold groupings. The flowers are in many shades of both soft 
and brilliant colors, so that by selecting colors they will blend with any planting. 
As they vary in height from 10 inches to 5 feet it will be seen that they have great possi- 
bilities for hardy borders. The best effect is to be had by massing in groups of from 
six plants on of a single color. They can be planted to good advantage in open shrubbery 
or in front of tall shrubs. 
Culture. Sit., in sun if in a cool climate; in light shade or where the sun is cut off 
in the heat of the day if in a hot climate. Dense shade is not good and a hot, dry posi- 
tion out of question. Soil, best of all a well-worked garden loam whether sandy clay or 
even fairly gravelly with a liberal dressing of well-rotted manure worked in. 
Mulching. In California a summer covering of any fibrous material, such as fairly 
well-rotted manure, grass-clippings, leaf-mold, or even shavings, will prevent the sur- 
face of the soil from getting dry and is a great help. 
Watering. Phlox do not need any more water than is needed for general summer 
gardening, but they are especially averse to having their thick mass of upper roots 
dried out, hence the mulch. They should be thoroughly watered when it is done, and 
with a mulch this need not be often. Whenever a plant drops its lower leaves and the 
flowers come out small, you may be sure that the manner of watering is at fault. 
PI., September to March. Fall is better than the spring. Prop., two-year-old plants 
are best. They can be propagated in three ways: (1) Divisions of old clumps. In this 
case the vigorous young shoots on the outside are to be kept. (2) By young shoots cut 
off in spring and rooted in a house or frame. (3) By root cuttings cut off and planted in 
the winter. All of these make fine plants the second season. Seeds are worthless; they 
grow easily but produce a large percentage of poorly colored flowers. 
Phlox about San Francisco Bay. Using the methods I have outlined, and especially 
the summer mulch, I have grown superb Phlox all about the Bay region, whether in 
Alameda sand, Berkeley adobe or San Francisco sand and fog. They do as well in 
light shade in all of the Peninsula region and, with a little more care, throughout Cali- 
fornia, and luxuriate in the North of Bay regions. 
The set of named varieties given below represents most of the very best known. I have 
fully 100 sorts, and anyone wanting a wider variety can get them at the same prices, that 
is, 15 cts. each, or $1.25 per doz. 
Anna Cook. Very soft pink with pale red eye. One of the best true pinks. 
Antonin Mercie. The pure white center is bordered with lilac. Very large flowers 
and quite striking. 
Baron Van Dedem. Glistening scarlet-blood-red. Large trusses. 
Caprice has a pure white rim and a bright red center; fine. 2 to 3 ft. 
Charles Darwin. Bright rose-scarlet, tinged salmon; rose-purple eye. A fine variety. 
3 to 4 ft. 
Cornelia Potter. Dwarf, with large panicles of pure white flowers. 
Dawn. Salmon, fading to pink; red eye. 2 to 3 ft. 
Duguesclin. Bluish violet, shading to a white edging. 
Edmond Bossier. Carmine-analine, with a white star in center. 
Edmond Rostand. Violet-rose, with large white center. 
Etna. Brilliant orange-scarlet. 
F. C. Rea. Fine compact truss. White, suffused rose, with large, dark rose eye. 
One of the best two-color sorts. 18 to 24 in. 
Gen. Van Heutz. Intensely brilliant salmon-red, with white eye. This makes a 
wonderful mass showing. 3 ft. 
Henri Murger. Pure white, with rose center. 
Hermione. A very dwarf pure white, with very large broad trusses. 12 in. 
Independence. Pure white. 12 to 18 in. 
James Bennett. Light salmon-rose with a large red center; general effect is a 
brilliant salmon-pink. A most striking group. 
