42 
Carl Purdy, Uriah, California 
OENOTHERA or Evening Primroses. There are a number of West American 
species which form low rosettes or masses and that are fine for the rock 
garden. I do not know anything lovelier than a fine plant of Oe. America or 
Oe. Missouriensis in large pocket with a rock background. The flowers open 
in the evening and last until noon next day and, except the yellow, turn color. 
Burbank’s “America” is most striking, the pure white flowers being as much 
as 5 inches across. The plant, however, becomes long and trailing and is not 
leafy but in full flower it is a marvelous sight. Each 50 cts. 
Caespitosa. I had and greatly treasured this delightful plant years ago but 
lost it and it has been practically lost to gardens un il last fall I secured a fine 
lot from South Dakota and in flower now (June 15), it is a delight to every one. 
It forms leafy rosettes 6 inches across and eventually from underground runners 
additional rosettes are formed. The flowers, opening just at eve, are pure 
white and 3 inches across. They turn pink and fade by the next afternoon. A 
rosette of these fine flowers is a sight indeed. 30 cts. each. 
Missouriensis makes one of the very showiest masses of yellow to be found 
in the garden. The light green mass is 10 inches high and often spreads to 2 
feet across from the one central root. Flowers are bright yellow and 3 to 5 
inches across. 25 cts. each; 3 for 60 cts. See cut, page 41. 
Speciosa, Bright Rose. This is a very fine thing and especially for hot cli¬ 
mates. It makes a mass 8 to 12 inches high and spreads by underground runners. 
The flowers are large pinkish rose colored cups borne over a very long season 
and they last for some days after opening. Give a moist situation and full sun 
but do not plant too close to small plants as it spreads to crowd them. Stands 
dry situations but does not flower so long or so freely. Each 25 cts.; 3 for 65 cts. 
Tetraptera grows to a foot high and has many fair-sized flowers of pure white 
which opens at eve and lasts until the following noon. Established in the Fall 
it will flower from early Spring until frost, in the dryest situations without 
water. Each 25 cts.; 3 for 65 cts. 
OXALIS Oregona, the Oxalis of the Redwood Forest, where it carpets con¬ 
siderable areas densely, is a most useful plant for carpeting under ferns, for 
the shaded north border, or to make a dense ground-cover under trees. It 
spreads quickly to make a solid cover, but never becomes a nuisance by over¬ 
spreading or seeding. The large flowers are a handsome rose. To make mass 
covers p’ant the long, underground runners flatly, wi.h about 2 inches of soil 
cover and, say, 10 inches apart. 15 cts. each; $1.50 per doz.; $5 per 100. 
PA PAVER ruprifraga. This choice little poppy from Spain has 12 to 15 inch 
stems with orange flowers like spun silk. Stands much drouth. Blooms all 
summer if not allowed to seed. 25 cts. each; 3 for 60 cts. 
PENTSTEMONS. In the West they are in our finest natural rock masses. 
Often one will find them rooted in a rock crevice or filling a pocket in a rock 
mass. I have never seen an effect in a rock garden as lovely as some of these 
wild clumps. There is a very large number of species and some are too ta’l 
for the ordinary rock garden. It seems best to list them all in this section and 
I give heights of those that are suitable for only the very large rock garden or 
for other purposes. 
Confertus makes flat mats by stems rooting at joints with slender stems to 
10 inches and deep blue flowers in dense circles. Likes a moist situation. 
25 cts. each; 3 for 60 cts. 
Davidsonii is one of the very choicest of Western alpines and perhaps may 
rank among the world’s twelve best rock plants. The prostrate stems root at 
joints to make a dense carpet a half inch high. Foliage is a shining light green. 
The many 3 in. stems bear 2 to 3 large bluish to purplish flowers. Light shade 
is best and a good colony amongst rocks is a thing to remember. 50 cts. each. 
Hete.rophyllos var. Purdyii, just named in my honor, I have for years called 
“CALIFORNIA BLUE BEDDER”. It makes a low mass 5 to 8 inches in height, 
and through the entire summer produces great quantities of blue to pinkish- 
lavender flowers of real beauty. 25 cts. each; 3 for 45 cts.; $1.50 per doz. 
