Easily Grown Perennials That Flower Quickly 
From Seed. G 
[Editor’s Note: — This article is presented as a companion to the one on Annuals From Seed in the January issue. It is a reliable guide to 
varieties as well as to kinds, and is prepared by a grower of exceptional experience .] 
A LARGE herbaceous border may 
be made in a single season by start- 
ing early in the year with seeds, 
and there is the further advantage 
that so many kinds are easily available and 
will grow on any soil of average quality. 
There is a subtle something in the perennial 
border with its irregular lines and differences 
in height of plants which appeals to everyone. 
Then there is the constant change in color 
from week to week throughout the season, 
from early spring until severe frost, due to 
the variety of subjects used, so that all formal 
effects are eliminated. As one kind passes its 
flowering season, something new is just un- 
folding its flower buds to add fresh beauty 
to the border. Of course, it is true some 
varieties only bloom for a limited period, 
yet with few exceptions they retain their bright 
attractive foliage throughout the season, 
while many of the early summer flowering 
subjects will bloom again in the fall provided 
the old flower stems are cut back to the ground 
level and not allowed to form 
seed. Another important point 
is chat the plants increase in 
beauty year by year. Some 
people entertain a prejudice 
against raising perennials from 
seed because of the common be- 
lief that the plants will not bloom 
, until the second year. That is 
true, indeed, to a large degree, 
but the majority of those named 
in this article will flower the 
first season if started early in heat 
and, indeed, will flower even 
from outdoor sowings made in 
the spring. All the same, I ad- 
vocate sowing in a hotbed or cold- 
frame, or even a sunny window, as the seed 
pans are then more likely to get the necessary 
care and so ensure a perfect stand of seedlings, 
besides furnishing earlier bloom. If a heated 
greenhouse frame or window is available, 
get the seed sown early in March, but if the 
frame is not heated, better delay operations 
until later in March. Though it is more 
convenient to work in a greenhouse and the 
seedlings are more easily handled there, yet 
seeds generally germinate more readily and 
more evenly in a hotbed, where the air is 
more moist and therefore more congenial in 
every way, than when grown in the rather 
dry atmosphere of a greenhouse. Appended 
are a few suggested collections selected to 
serve definite purposes — and any one of 
which can be purchased (as seed) for a 
dollar or so. The reader who wishes for 
more detailed instructions on the raising of 
the seedlings will find the information 
elsewhere in this issue of The Garden 
Magazine. 
Guide to the Best Kinds 
IT IS quite important to use the following 
Index in connection with the accompanying 
tables in making up the seed order. In 
the latter the popular name is given prefer- 
ence, while this list is arranged alphabetically 
by the technical name; thus the two cross- 
index each other. 
Achillea ptarmica (Pearl Flower). Useful 
for cutting. Dense clusters of pure white 
double flowers. Plant spreads rapidly. This 
is a doubled flower form of the common 
Sneezewort. 
Agrostemma Coronaria (Mullein Pink). 
Beautiful silvery foliage, flowers continuously 
if not allowed to set seed. Var. atrosanguinea 
has very dark color. 
Althaea rosea (Hollyhock). Sown early in 
heat, the single Hollyhock will flower freely 
the first season. Alleghany type has finely 
fringed flowers. 
Alyssum saxatile (Gold Dust). 
Almost indispensable in its group 
of rockery or edging plants. It 
grows anywhere. 
Anchusa italica (Alkanet). 
The variety Dropmore is the best 
known and is a great improve- 
ment on the old Alkanet and 
ranks as one of our best peren- 
nials. The immense flower heads 
are very striking. Color rich 
gentian blue. Opal is paler blue. 
Aquilegia (Columbine). Sow 
the Long-Spurred strain which 
is by far the finest. Colors range 
from white and yellow to bright 
red and chocolate. 
DWARF GROWING PERENNIALS FOR EDGING OR ROCK WORK 
This is a most interesting list, with the exception of Dianthus plumarius they are not suitable 
for cutting, yet in their season the plants become perfect masses of dainty flowers, and, in rock 
work, form charming pictures. One packet of each should produce plants sufficient for a Rockery 
of 125 square feet, or plants for edging, 300 to 400 feet of border. 
POPULAR NAME 
TECHNICAL NAME 
DISTANCE 
APART 
INCHES 
HEIGHT 
INCHES 
FLOWERING 
SEASON 
COLOR 
Snow in Summer 
Cerastium tomentosum 
12 
6 
May-Julv 
White 
Soapwort 
Saponaria ocymoides 
9 
9 
May-Aug. 
Crimson 
Pink 
Dianthus plumarius 
12 
12 
June-Aug. 
Various 
Kenilworth Ivv 
Linaria Cvmbalaria 
9 
4 
June-Oct. 
Pink 
Tunica 
Tunica saxifraga 
9 
9 
June-Nov. 
Blush 
Gold Dust 
Alyssum saxatile 
6 
9 
May 
Yellow 
Sandwort 
Arenaria montana 
9 
6 
May-July 
White 
Bluebell 
Campanula carpatica 
9 
9 
June-Aug. 
Blue white 
Rockcress 
Arabis alpina 
9 
9 
March-May 
White 
Candytuft 
Iberis sempervirens 
9 
9 
March-June 
White 
PERENNIALS FOR CUTTING AND CONTINUOUS FLOWERING 
When throughly established and given ordinary care these ten kinds will give flowers for cutting 
over a long season, the majority blooming from early summer until fall. One packet of seed of 
each will give sufficient plants for a border 30 x 5 ft. 
POPULAR NAME 
TECHNICAL NAME 
DISTANCE 
APART 
INCHES 
HEIGHT 
INCHES 
FLOWERING 
SEASON 
COLOR 
Mullein Pink 
Agrostemma Coronaria 
15 
18 
June-Sept. 
Crimson 
Calliopsis 
Coreopsis grandiflora 
18 
24 
June-Oct. 
Yellow 
Larkspur 
Delphinium Belladonna 
18 
36-60 
July-Oct. 
Blue 
Valerian 
Centranthus ruber 
12 
18 
July-Nov. 
Various 
Blanket Flower 
Gaillardia grandiflora 
12 
18 
July-Oct. 
Y ellow and red 
Rose Mallow 
Hibiscus Moscheutos 
18 
60 
June-Sept. 
Various 
Pearl Flower 
Achillea ptarmica 
18 
24 
Mav-Oct. 
White 
Shasta Daisy 
Chrysanthemum maximum 
18 
24 
May-Nov. 
White 
Iceland Poppy 
Papaver nudicaule 
9 
12 
June-Nov. 
Whiteorange, yellow 
Fleabane 
Erigeron speciosus 
12 
30 
May-Nov. 
Lavender 
AN ALTERNATIVE COLLECTION FOR LONG SEASON BLOOM 
These :welve kinds costing One Dollar, are, with the exception of Linum and Hollyhock, first- 
class cutting sorts flowering continuously until frost. One seed packet of each will be sufficient 
for a bed 35 x 5 ft. 
POPULAR NAME 
TECHNICAL NAME 
DISTANCE 
APART 
INCHES 
H w> 
X w 
O X 
— O 
X 2 
FLOWERING 
SEASON 
COLOR 
Devil’s Bit 
Scabiosa caucasica 
12 
18 
June-Oct. 
Lilac-blue 
Sweet Sultan 
Centaurea dealbata 
18 
30 
June-Sept. 
Rose 
Thrift 
Armeria latifolia 
9 
18 
luly-Sept. 
Rose 
Cone Flower 
Rudbeckia speciosa 
12 
24 
July-Sept. 
Yellow 
Beard-tongue 
Pentstemon harbatus 
12 
24 
lune-Oct. 
Red 
Maltese Cross 
Lychnis chalcedonica 
12 
30 
July-Oct. 
Scarlet 
Flax 
Linum perenne 
12 
18 
lune-Sept 
Blue 
Giant Bellflower 
Platycodon grandiflorum 
12 
24 
[uly-Oct. 
White and blue 
Lupin 
Lupinus polphyllus 
15 
48 
lune-Sept. 
Various 
Red-hot poker 
I ntoma uvaria 
18 
30-48 
luly-Nov. 
Red and orange 
Avens 
Geum coccinium 
12 
18 
May-Aug. 
Red 
Hollyhock 
Althaea rosea 
24 
70-90 
July-Oct. 
Various 
EARLY BLOOMING PERENNIALS 
For flowers in late spring and early summer, the following are all useful for cutting, and one 
packet each of the eleven kinds can be had for One Dollar, and will produce sufficient" plants for 
a bed 30 x 5 ft. 
POPULAR NAME 
TECHNICAL NAME 
DISTANCE 
APART 
INCHES 
HEIGHT 
INCHES 
FLOWERING 
SEASON 
COLOR 
Alkanet 
Anchusa italica 
18 
48 
June 
Blue 
Columbine 
Aquilegia 
18 
36 
May-Sept. 
Various 
Pyrethrum 
Chrysanthemum coccineum 
12 
30 
fune-July 
Various 
Wall Flower 
Cheiranthus Allioni 
9 
12 
June-Aug. 
Yellow 
Meadow Rue 
Thalictrum 
12 
30 
May-Aug. 
Cream 
Sweet Rocket 
Hesperis matronalis 
12 
24 
July-Aug. 
Purple and White 
Babv Breath 
Gypsophila paniculata 
12 
30 
June-July 
White 
Sea Hollv 
Eryngium giganteum 
12 
36 
July-Sept. 
Silvery blue 
Speedwell 
Veronica spicata 
18 
24 
June-Aug. 
Various 
Sweet Sultan 
Centaurea montana 
18 
24 
May-Aug. 
Blue 
Catchfly 
Lychnis Haageana 
12 
IS 
June 
Scarlet 
FOR LATE SUMMER AND FALL BLOOM 
Every garden should have large plantings of the Early Flowering Chrysanthemum. They 
continue flowering after Dahlias and other flowers are cut oft' by early frost. One packet of 
each of these ten kinds should plant a bed 30 x 5 ft. 
POPULAR NAME 
TECHNICAL NAME 
DISTANCE 
APART 
INCHES 
HEIGHT 
INCHES 
FLOWERING 
SEASON 
COLOR 
Horned Poppy 
Glaucium luteum 
18 
18 
fune-Oct. 
Orange 
Purple Cone Flower 
Echinacea purpurea 
12 
36 
July-Oct. 
Reddish purple 
Stokes’ Aster 
Stokesia cyanea 
9 
12 
luly-Nov. 
Blue 
Heliopsis 
Heliopsis scabra 
12 
30 
July-Nov. 
Yellow 
Loosestrife 
Lythrum Salicaria 
12 
60 
luly-Sept. 
Rose 
Chrysanthemum 
Chrysanthemum 
18 
36 
Aug.-Nov. 
Various 
Snakeroot 
Eupatorium Fraseri 
12 
36 
Aug. -Oct. 
White 
Sneezewort 
Helenium autumnale 
12 
60 
lune-Oct. 
Yellow 
Plume Poppy 
Bocconia cordata 
18 
72 
July-Sept. 
Buff 
Globe Thistle 
Echinopa sphaerocephalus 
18 
72 
July-Sept. 
Blue 
18 
