Here Are Some Plants Worth Noting

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29245, 1 July 1960, Page 6

Here Are Some Plants Worth Noting

the flowers appear throughout the summer. Conrad F. Meyer is probably the best of all, a strong, rapid grower, bearing a wealth of silvery rose flowers and blooming early and late. Rugosa alba is pure white, single. There are several other varieties. These roses are easy to grow, require very little priming, very hardy, and will do in places where many shrubs would perish. If it is necessary to keep them in a restricted area they can be cut hard back each spring.

Violas And Pansies— The viola is a valued member of a family highly esteemed for beauty and fragrance, and their other good qualities in garden work. The pansy and violet are other close relatives and are "musts” for most gardeners. There are botanical differences restricting their classification, but, as between the viola and pansy, it is more in facial appearance that the distinction exists. The pansy relies on size, thick texture, round overlapping petals, and solid colouring; but in the viola, solid face markings are “taboo” and only lines of contrasting shade are permitted, so that many of our very best old violas are self coloured in white, yellow or blue shades. Violas are easily raised from seed, and two new breaks are worth growing for their cheeky variety. They are named Bambini and Pucciana, and are certainly interesting breaks. Size is not of so much importance with the viola as with the pansy. Winter-Floicering Ericas— There are two of these heaths flowering splendidly just now that are well worth a place in every garden. Both are in shades of pink with black anthers, and make excellent vase flowers. Erica melanthera grows four feet high and is just smothered in dainty pink bells. The other, E. darleyense, is a dwarf spreading bush, not more than 18 inches high. It is excellent as a control of traffic in or around pathways, or on the rockery, as it can resist hard wear or foot traffic, even round a doorstep, better' than most plants. Japanese Roses— The Japanese rose, or rose rugosa, is an old sort; it forms a handsome shrub, growing to a height of from six to eight feet. It makes a splendid hedge plant, especially the single crimson and white varieties. The foliage is rich olive green, glossy and leathery;

Tunica Saxifraga— Tunica Saxifraga is a delightful little plant that will be a cheerful object all summer in the hottest and most barren soil, or in the chinks of an old wall in full sun. Though a true alpine it is not nearly so fastidious as many which come within that term. Indeed, it will do almost anywhere and without any attention, and, once it is established, will raise a numerous progeny. T. Saxifraga forms a neat tuft, about six inches high, of thin, wiry, deep-green stems which blaze with charming rosy flowers for months without cessation. It is so elegant that many people often take it to be .some form of Gypsophila. Plants may be set out now, but where it is desired to establish it in a wall seed scattered about in spring will be more successful.