SOME GOOD ALPINES FOR THE ROCK GARDEN

Evening Star, Issue 22032, 18 May 1935, Page 3

SOME GOOD ALPINES FOR THE ROCK GARDEN

In choosing plants for the rock garden, do not omit to include a f®tv which bloom in the autumn. Iwo lovely little trailing gypsophllas that flower at this period are G. Repens, with elegant dusters of pale pink flowers, and G. Monstrosa, a little larger in growth with flowers of pure white (writes “ Lorna,” in the ‘ Manawatu Daily Times { ). Zauschnena californica, commonly known as the Californian fuchsia grows about one foot in height, with spikes of bright scarlet flowers; loving full sunshine and dry soil. Polygonum vaccinifolium is a dwarf shrubby plant, worthy of a place on the higher part of the rock garden. It is a much branching trailer, has bright red stems, and spikes of pink flowers. Corydalis lutea is a pretty plant owing to its leathery foliage and yellow flowers, which are tinted green and' white. A delightful plant tor old walls. No rock garden :is complete without lithospermum prostratum, a beautiful plant, particularly the variety heavenly blue'. This is always in bloom from' spring until late autumn, and should be planted on a dry slope to' do really well. Another lovely ever-blooming plant we have in ipomea mauritatiicus, a pretty trailer with blue flowers; a good companion to it is ipomea auratanicus, with pale pink flowers. Sedum ewersii is a beautiful late-blooming little plant, with fleshy leaves and pretty pink flowers. Silene shafta is a nice plant which blooms profusely in late sunmmer and autumn with deep rose flowers. Geranium cinereum is a pretty silver-leaved plant with reddish purple striped flowers, while ’ veronica rupestris produces sheets of dark green iorliage that is smothered with bright blue flowers until well on in autumn. The charming little autumn flowering cyclamen should be generously planted; these flower freely if planted in shady nooks at the base of stones or trees. All the above mentioned are of easy culture and will help to brighten the autumn rock garden. Autumn flowering crocuses should also be freely introduced.