PLATE 15. 
INCARVILLEA DELAY AYI. 
Since the introduction of this fine species from the pastures of the lofty 
mountainous regions in Western China, the genus Incarvillea has become 
much better known and appreciated in gardens. I. Delavayi is one of the 
numerous fine plants introduced by the Abbe Delavay from the Celestial 
Empire to European gardens, and it is undoubtedly the best garden plant in 
the genus up to the present. It grows 1^ to feet high, has thickish, fleshy 
roots, and large leaves deeply divided into coarsely-toothed segments. The 
flowers, as in all Bignoniaceous plants, are tubular with spreading segments, 
and of a bright rosy carmine colour, washed and blotched with brown and 
yellow in the throat. They appear from June to August. The plate shows 
only a few flowers, owing to considerations of space, and it may be as well, 
therefore, to mention that from 10 to 15 flowers are often borne on one flower 
stalk when the plants are treated liberally. 
Culture. —Although when first introduced from China I. Delavayi was 
thought to be rather tender, experience has since proved that it is perfectly 
hardy in most parts of the United Kingdom. This indeed, is not unnatural, 
when we consider that in its native habitat it is found at an elevation of 8,000 
to 11,500 feet. It flourishes best in a light, richly manured garden soil, and 
delights in plenty of air and sunshine. In bleak parts of the kingdom it may 
be necessary, merely as a precaution against severe frosts, to protect the fleshy 
roots with a little straw or bracken during the winter months. Otherwise there 
is no real necessity for coddling the plants. A mulching of well-rotted manure, 
however, should be placed around the plants each year, especially when they 
are about to throw blossom. The plants are easily propagated by careful 
division of the fleshy roots about September. Seeds are ripened freely, and 
if sown in gentle heat in spring will germinate freely in about 10 days or a 
fortnight. The young plants when about 2 inches high, that is when they are 
a month or 6 weeks old, may be transferred singly to small pots and grown on 
till the autumn, or even the following spring, when they may be planted out in 
mild showery weather. 
Other species of Incarvillea worth growing are:—/. coinpacta with large 
rosy-pink flowers not very freely produced, and I. Bonvaloti , somewhat similar 
in character ; I. grandiflora , with larger flowers than I. Delavayi; I. Koop- 
manni, with mauvy-pink flowers ; I. Olgce, an old garden plant with bright 
rose or purple flowers in the way of I. Koopmanni ; /. sinensis , with scarlet or 
crimson flowers ; I. variabilis with small rose purple flowers and fern-like 
foliage. This last-named species is winning its way into popular favour as it 
is easily raised from seeds, and may be grown as readily as I. Delavayi. 
