ISO 
THE HELIANTHEMUM,, OR SUN ROSE. 
THE HELIANTHEMUM, OR SUN ROSE. 
The Heliantliemums constitute a some- 
what numerous group of small undershrubs, 
or trailing suffruticose plants, mostly hardy, 
or nearly so, well suited for rockwork, and 
producing a succession of gay, though fugi- 
tive blossoms, through the greater part of the 
summer. In company with the species of a 
nearly allied genus, the Cistus or Rock Rose, 
they constitute a very interesting group of 
hardy ligneous plants, which, from their dis- 
tinctness of general character, as well as their 
beauty, deserve more attention than they 
receive. They are particularly suited to that 
class of cultivators who pride themselves on 
attaining excellence in cultivating — and col- 
lecting too — any particular families of plants ; 
and though a Cistacetum, or collection of Cis- 
taceous plants, would be less extensive, and 
perhaps less permanently beautiful than an 
Ericacetwm, comprising the whole range of 
what are called American plants, yet as a 
distinct feature in the scenery of a garden, it 
would be as appropriate and desirable, where 
space and situation were alike favourable to 
its introduction. 
The name Helianthemum is derived from 
helios, the sun, and anthemon a flower ; the 
idea "sun-flower" arising from the circum- 
stance of the opening of the flower in the 
morning, or at sunrise, and the falling off of 
the petals in the evening, or at sunset. The 
flowers both of Cistus and Helianthemum are 
somewhat fugacious, lasting only for a few 
hours during the day while the sun shines, 
and rarely, if ever, continuing till the second 
day. If the sun does not make its appear- 
ance, and the weather is consequently dull 
and heavy, the flowers remain unexpanded ; 
and if this continue for several days together, 
they will decay in the bud. The trivial 
name Sun Rose, corresponds with that of 
Cistus, which is Rock Rose, the appellation 
of rose being probably originally applied 
from the resemblance in form between some 
of the larger Cistuses and the blossoms of a 
single flowered rose. 
Rockwork, and a warm and sheltered situa- 
tion, are the conditions most favourable to the 
cultivation of these plants. Rockwork is not 
indeed an indispensable condition, so that the 
soil is quite free from stagnant water, and of 
the character known as dry soil, but the semi- 
trailing habit of most of the kinds adapts 
them for such situations, which also favour 
and secure that dryness of the soil in which 
they delight, so that they are never met with 
in a more healthy and vigorous condition than 
when planted on rockwork. Where it is not 
convenient to plant them on rockwork, a 
well drained border, sloping to the south, will 
