ii6 HARDY PERENNIALS 
spread well out toward the chief point of view. 
Cnicus. — Here we have a genus of biennial thistles 
of majestic proportions and handsome outline. 
C. arachnoideus is known as the Cobweb Thistle 
by reason of the thread-like filaments that grow 
from point to point of its spiny bracts. 
C. conspicuus has flower heads of orange scarlet 
and there are three or four others that have distinc- 
tive beauty in foliage bracts and flowers. 
Choose an open, dry position where big plants 
may show to advantage, their height ranging from 
five to seven feet or so. A big isolated bed on 
grass filled with these plants makes a feature of 
tropical luxuriance. All are easily raised from 
seed. 
Codonopsis. — Akin to Campanulas but of a trailing 
habit, Codonopsis ovata is a lovely flower that 
best reveals its charms when tumbling over the 
edge of a wall garden well above the adjoining 
walk. In such position the interior of the bell- 
shaped flowers are brought to view, and as this is 
spotted and veined with yellow and white on a 
porcelain-blue ground, the beauty of a well-grown 
plant may be imagined. Rotundifolia is another 
with blue and yellow flowers. The plants like 
plenty of sand in their root-run and delight in full 
exposure to the sun. 
Colchicum. — There is always a peculiar interest 
in a plant that produces flowers before leaves, but 
whilst several shrubs and trees follow this plan 
