NEWCOMERS TO THE GARDEN

Evening Star, Issue 21784, 28 July 1934, Page 23

NEWCOMERS TO THE GARDEN

lu a recent number of ‘ Country Life ’ ,\lr G. C. Taylor has an Interesting article entitled ‘ Newcomers to the Garden-’ in which he describes sopic pew plapts w)iich i will probably become valuable acquisitions, for the flower border and rock garden. Mr Taylor says that in the present vogue for Chinese plants the virtues of many other good plants which have been introduced from elsewhere have ■ perhaps bfeelr ratlibf overlooked. Many plants of considerable merit have conic from jVorth and South America and South Africa, while the slcadv stream from Kashmir and fVepal. winch started five of sjx years ago, still continues. The two South African ursinias, anethoids. and pijlchra, nlapy of the Arctotis, the giant broom,_ Gytisus Battandieri from Morocco (which first appeared in trade catalogues this season). Meconopsis regia and Phwojii, gentiana ofnata, primula sonchifolia, the beautiful white P, Wigrapiian.i. and a violet-flowered Ijly, IMacrophyllum, from Nepal, “ Perhaps one of the most outstanding of recent introductions from South America is. a lovely little Nicrembefgin named Hippomanica. With its neat and compact dwarf tufts of slender stems and linear leaves and purplish-blue flowers that are generously given all through the siuAinir, it is quite distinct

from auv other member of -the race, arid, judging by its behaviour at Hyde Park this year, it promises to- be a valuable acquisition to our list of bedding plants.” Additions to the climbing_ race of composites known as the Mutisias have come from South America. M. oligodon, which ha? salmon-pink flowers, was introduced by Comber from Chile about six years ago, and now appears to be fairly well established. Mr Taylor describes it as a charming plant where it hai? some support to ramble over, and, though doubtfully hardy, should be.perfectly at home in a sheltered garden. On the other band, the orange-scarlet M‘. sublata, introduced by Air Clarence ISUjot. is rate and not basy to grow. For the bog garden,or a moist border .Mr Taylor considers tho mallow Spacralcea acerifolia too good to be neglected. It is a handsome plant, about 4ft high, with fine spikes of lilactinted flowers. And, to those who do not mind the trouble of raising it from seed every year be recommends the brilliant red pentstemon Eatoni. It is a striking border plant, but has a tender constitution. Coloured forms ranging from pure yellow to rich coppery-red have recently been added to Rudbeckia hirta, and considerably enhance the ornamental value of this good border plant. For cultivation in an alpine house mertensia Horheri is .described Ss a lovely plant. It is about 4in or ojii high, and bears large dusters of drooping tubular flowers of turquoise blue. Erigonum neveum comes from the same neighbourhood as the mertensia. A large germs, it is as yet poorly represented in gardens, and this member is possibly ope of the best ol the race. With itj? silvery-white leaves Ift high, branching pure, white stems, carrying crowded spikes of small white flowers, ft is a singularly attractive hardy Plant wbfch, if not brilliant ip its effect, is at least worth a place in the border {or the sake of the charming contrast it affords in colour and texture. Although the rich hunting ground for mecouopsis, gentians, and primulas, Nepal' has not yet yielded the variety of fine garden plants which have recently come from Kashmir, fblonds Cashmeriana, raised from seed from Kashmir, is not a newcomer, but has been out of cultivation for a long time. It is a hardy,. easily-grown plant, with handsome pale green fohr age arid 3ft steins, bearing two or three whorls of large lilac-rose flowers.. Campanulas suitable for tlie rock garden— C. argyrotn’elia and Cj ajsihoicles—ahd a ditarf aconite called Cordata, which bears large deep blue flowers, are other notable introductions from Kashmir. From Kashmir, too. come the new catmint. Nepeia nervoso. which. bears largo deep blue (lovers throughout the summer, and seems to do best in a partially shaded situation, and a handsome white anemone called anemone tctrasepala. The. latter plant takes time to settle down, .three years dr so elapsing before it reveals its beauty.