TUB GARDENING WORLD. 
253 
March 21, 1903. 
THE ALPINE GARDEN. 
Saxifraga oppositifolia. 
The above species is particularly a rock garden plant, but 
not eveiyone is perfectly successful in its culture. There is no 
real difficulty attached, to its cultivation, however, provided the 
cultivator studies the conditions under which it grows in a wild 
state. Being a mountain species, it is mostly always under 
cool and moist conditions at home', and these two' conditions, or, 
at least, the question of moisture, should be given full attention, 
and no difficulties will he experienced in its cultivation. 
Both S. oppositifolia and A. aizoides are often planted on 
the sloping bank of the rock garden, facing the sun even in the 
southern counties of England, and while the former flowers in 
proportion to the growth it has made, the latter may not flower 
sents this variety ; and though there are differences of opinion 
as to whether the white or the purple form is the most beautiful, 
there can be no doubt that the white one is indispensable, and 
it certainly makes a beautiful contrast with the type. The 
specimen in question was one of nine pans of the white variety 
in the Alpine House at Kew. Both there and elsewhere we 
have seen a good many of the other varieties, and, as a ride, 
they are flowering well this year. 
Numerous varieties, have been named, one of the most 
common being S. o. major, with larger flowers and foliage. 
Closely similar is S. o. pyrenaica; and S. o. p. maxima has 
still larger flowers, though we do not admire it so much as some 
of the smaller-flowered types. The petals, though large, have 
usually a space between them, which helps to increase the size 
of the flowers, but does not, in our opinion, improve their 
appearance. S. o. p. rubra differs chiefly in the veiy dark rich 
colour of its flowers. The same might be said of S. O', p. 
Saxifkaga oppositifolia alba. 
at all, for the simple reason that S. oppositifolia flowers in 
spring, before the moisture is dried up, and 8. aizoides should 
flower in late summer or autumn, and that being after the dry 
period it gets burned up, if planted in a. diy position. 
Where there is any difficulty in the matter of moisture, a 
position should be chosen enjoying partial shade during the 
hotter part of the day. Care should be taken, however, not to 
plant it under the drip of trees or shrubs, nor where the light 
will be obstructed, as it naturally grows in full exposure, and 
must have light for its success. Both the type and the varieties 
are amenable to culture in pots or pans, and those wlm have no 
suitable position for them in the open will find them easy to 
cultivate in cold frames. Plants so sheltered will bloom early 
and may be utilised in the greenhouse or conservatory during 
February and March. 
Those who have the pleasure of seeing it in its native habitats 
will find it a variable plant, and some of the forms are very 
handsome indeed, notwithstanding the fact that most of the 
named varieties in cultivation have been imported from the 
Continent. The ordinary rich purple form is well worthy of 
cultivation. One of the most common varieties in cultivation 
■is S. o. alba, with pure white flowers. Our illustration repre- 
Splendens, which has large flowers of very brilliant colour ; in¬ 
deed, it is one of the most striking of the imported varieties by 
reason of its brightness. S. o. rudolphiana is a variety with 
large flowers and pointed petals, and in these respects we have 
seen something veiy similar on the Breadalbane Mountains, as 
far as the flowers are concerned, but the cultivated specimens 
of S. o. rudolphiana coming under our notice have more spread¬ 
ing leaves. It may also be said that the leaves of the Pyrenean 
forms are larger than those of the more typical states of this 
alpine Saxifrage. 
Hyacinthus azureus robustus. 
A small bulbous plant fully 6 in. high, closely resembling the 
“ Grape Hyacinth,” Muscari, forming the connecting link be¬ 
tween it and Hyacinthus. The azure-blue flowers are borne on 
a dense conical raceme, the lowermost flowers being a shade 
deeper. Given frame-culture in shallow pans, it forms at once 
a most desirable and effective plant by reason of its unique 
colour. Native of Hungaiy. 
