HOUSE AND GARDEN 
July, 1910 
across the water? There are the broad-leaved ones (Megasea 
type) that provide a bold, though very low, foliage effect for the 
•edge of the border, or for the rockery, not to mention larger 
clusters of spring flowers. The purplish, pink-flower S', cor di¬ 
folia, var. purpurea, is as good as any of the half dozen varieties 
in the market. A white variety, S', squarrosa, blooms in June, 
later than the others. The Megasea Saxifrages will do well 
anywhere, but the alpine kinds prefer partial shade and good 
drainage and are well adapted to the rockery. Of the latter, the 
genuine London Pride variety (S’, umbrosa ) will prove a charm¬ 
ing acquaintance. 
Another neglected early border flower, and among the most 
beautiful of all, is the Primula in some of its rarer forms. The 
Cashmere Primrose ( Primula Cachemiriana) is unique in con¬ 
trasting lilac flowers and whitish green leaves, the combination 
being particularly agreeable. The later Japanese Primrose 
Sieboldii ) has white, pink and lilac flowers 
with light green foliage, and in its way is 
•quite as beautiful. Then there is the re¬ 
markable blue Primrose ( P. acaulis cocru- 
lea). All three are perfectly hardy, and 
there need be no difficulty in wintering a 
fourth type of Primrose (P. auricula). 
The last-named blossoms freely the second 
year from seed and the range of coloring 
is nothing short of astonishing to anyone 
who is familiar with the Auriculas of 
England. 
Then there is a Larkspur that ought to 
be in more gardens. This is the Chinese 
type. Its comparatively low growth, un¬ 
conventional branching habit, finely cut 
foliage and loose, graceful panicles of 
flowers make it particularly desirable for 
the front part of a border, where the tall 
larkspurs are out of the question. Two of 
its blue shades are unsurpassed by its more 
pretentious relatives, and there is a pure 
white that goes exceedingly well with the 
(P. 
yellow flowers. 
Now that the 
Bleeding Heart,be¬ 
loved of old gar¬ 
dens, is coming 
back to its own, 
why not have the 
plumey kind ( Die- 
centra formosa) 
also? On a small 
scale — it is only 
about a foot high 
—it has all the 
merits of the other, 
with the additional 
advantage that it 
Do you know the blue Pentstemon, or Beard- 
tongue, that forms splendid upright clumps 
The Chinese Larkspur has a loose branching 
habit that serves well the front of the border 
others. Seed plant¬ 
ed out of doors in 
the spring will fur¬ 
nish a few autumn 
flowers, but it is, 
of course, not until 
the second year, 
and after that, that 
the plant takes on 
its real glory. The 
Z a 1 i 1 Larkspur 
(Delphinium sid- 
phurenm) has simi¬ 
lar foliage, but is 
taller of habit, and 
is worth a better ac¬ 
quaintance because 
of its clear, light 
times the lower lip is 
sionallv there will be 
The Leopard’s Bane is one of the most charm¬ 
ing, though least known, of the yellow 
spring perennials 
blooms from spring to the end of summer 
and does not lose its foliage, which is 
handsome enough in itself to warrant a 
place in the garden for this plant. 
And, all things considered, where is 
there a yellow perennial of more intrinsic 
beauty than the low, drooping St. John's 
Wort (Hypericum Moscrianum) ? A well 
established plant in the border will give a 
wealth of golden flowers, like little single 
roses, in the summer. As it is of shrubby 
habit, it lends itself well to the edge of a 
shrubbery border. 
Salvia, to most who grow flowers, 
means the best material for painting the 
home grounds, or garden, red. But there 
are three good blue salvias that are hardy; 
also a white one, the S. argentca, of the 
beautiful silvery foliage. Of the blues, 
A. pratensis should be far better known. 
It is not always blue, however. Some- 
white and the upper one purple, and occa- 
a distinct lilac tone. 
The False D ragon-head ( Physostegia Virginiana ) I as 
rarely see in the home garden. Yet for a tall perennial of mid¬ 
summer it is uncommonly meritorious. Sometimes it is called 
obedient plant. Between the delicate pink and the white there 
is little choice and few perennials spread so fast. 
The Pentstemons or Beard-tongue, too, are seen less fre¬ 
quently than would be the case if more knew of them. The blue 
Pentstemon | P. ovatus ) forms splendid upright clumps and. in 
this respect, is a refreshing contrast to the coral (P. barbatus 
Torreyii ), which is admirable of color but very sprawly. 
For my closing plea I add one of the bluest of blue flowers, 
that came to me nameless but has since been identified as Lead- 
wort ( Plumbago larpentae or, more properly Ceratostigina 
plumbaginoidcs) . Its small flowers open, in little clusters, in the 
summer and early autumn, making the matted reddish foliage 
bright with bloom. The plant excels for a carpeting effect. 
