Migu&fc  10,  1819. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
125 
HELIOONIA  SANDERI. 
The  enormous  demand  that  exists  at  the  present  time  for  foliage 
plants  suitable  for  decorative  purposes  renders  the  introduction  of  new  ones 
particularly  welcome  provided  the  novelties  have  the  recommendation  of 
general  excellence.  For  this  reason,  Heliconia  Sanderi  (fig.  27),  which 
was  exhibited  at  the  Temple  Show  in  May  by  Messrs.  E.  Sander  &  Co,* 
St.  Albans,  attracted  a  considerable  amount  of  attention.  As  may  be  seen 
in  the  woodcut.the  leaves  partake  of  the  character  of  H.  illustris,  but  they 
are  totally  distinct  from  that  handsome  plant.  The  splendid  leaves,  in 
which  of  course  the  value  of  the  plant  lies,  are  tricoloured,  being  deep  green, 
rich  yellow,  and  almost  pure  white,  the  proportions  of  each  varying  very 
considerably.  The^Floral  Committee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
on  the  occasionnamed  recommended  a  first-class  certificate  for  this  plant, 
which  adds  one  more  to  Messrs.  Sander’s  long  list  of  useful  introductions 
Society  this  year  was  worthily  bestowed  upon  the  fine  example  exhibited 
by  Messrs.  Jackman  &  Son.  The  flowers  were  exceptionally  fine  and 
beautiful.  With  '•  D.,  Deal,"  A.  sylvestris  is,  I  believe,  almost  a  weed; 
while  with  the  writer  it  thrives  <ery  indifferently. 
SAPONARIA  OCYMOIDES  ALliA. 
Novelties  among  the  Socpworts  are  not  frequently  seen.  We  have, 
as  jet,  nothing  among  the  dwarf  or  trailing  species  which  can  compare 
in  value  for  the  rock  garden  with  S.  ocvmoides  and  its  varieties  splendens 
and  splendidissima.  The  two  last-named  are  perhaps,  the  finest  of  all 
the  Basil-leaved  Soapworts.  The  advent  of  the  new  variety,  named 
S.  ocymoides  alba,  is  worth  noting  as  giving  us  a  break  in  a  direction 
opposite  to  that  in  which  seedling  raisers  have  been  working.  Their 
aim  has  been  to  get  varieties  of  brighter  colouring.  S.  ocymoides  alba 
is  not  pure  white,  but  it  nearly  approaches  that  colour — if  one  may  keep 
to  that  useful  word  in  speaking  of  white  ;  there  is  a  tinge  of  pink  about 
it.  Thi?  new  plant  made  its  first  appearance  in  public  at  the  last 
NOTES  ON  ALPINE  FLOWERS. 
Pentstemon  glaucus. 
Ik  writing  these  notes  one’s  intention  is  not  merely  to  direct  attention 
to  flowers  of  worth,  but  also  to  remark  upon  others  it  may  be  desirable 
to  avoid  planting.  Such  a  plant  is  Pentstemon  glaucus,  which  is  neat 
enough  in  its  habit,  and  has  proved  fairly  hardy  in  my  garden.  What 
is  disappointing  is  the  dull  colouring  of  the  flowers.  These  are  a  dull 
purple,  and  can  hardly  be  called  either  effective  or  pleasing.  The  height 
of  P.  glaucus  is  described  in  works  of  reference  as  from  9  to  12  inches  in 
height  ;  but  with  the  writer  it  is  even  dwarfer  than  the  former  measure¬ 
ment.  It  is  not  a  flower  that  one  can  recommend  to  the  alpine  grower. 
Akemoke  sylvestris  EL.  PL. 
If  I  mistake  not  this  double  form  of  this  Windflower  has  already  been 
mentioned  in  these  notes.  When  grown  in  gardens  where  it  is  at  home 
it  is  likely,  however,  to  prove  an  even  more  appreciated  plant  than  one 
expected.  The  award  of  merit  granted  to  it  by  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Temple  Show  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society',  when  a  panful  was 
exhibited  by  Messrs.  Backhouse  &  Son  of  York.  We  are  indebted  to 
the  keen  eye  of  Mr.  James  Backhouse  of  that  firm  for  having  detected 
this  plant  while  travelling  in  the  Pyrenees.  The  solitary  plant  was  sent 
home,  and  has  become  the  parent  of  the  stock  now  in  the  hands  of  the 
firm.  That  it  will  be  useful  in  the  alpine  garden  admits  of  little 
doubt,  and  we  may  hope,  as  well,  to  secure  from  it  a  variety  of  greater 
purily. 
Armeria  setacea. 
This  beautiful  little  dwarf  Thrift  is  rather  variable  in  its  forms,  and 
those  who  desire  to  grow  it  ought  to  try  to  secure  a  variety  of  dwarf 
habit,  and  with  as  deep  colouring  as  possible.  I  recently  saw  a  good 
form  which  was  much  superior  to  that  I  now  have.  Those  who  do  not 
know  this  Thrift  will  have  an  idea  of  what  it  is  like  when  they  are  told 
that  it  is  a  miniature  of  our  common  Sea  Pink  or  Thrift  (A.  maritima), 
with  small  densely  tufted  foliage.  A  beautiful  little  plant  such  as  ihis 
may  well  be  grown. — Alpinus, 
(To  be  continued.) 
