AN ALPINE GARDEN TREASURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20330, 11 February 1928, Page 3

AN ALPINE GARDEN TREASURE

ANDROSACE CARNEA. At one time regarded ns difficult plants to cultivate in our gardens, it is now recognised that quite a number of the androsaces, or rock jasmines present as little difficulty as the majority of other alpine flowers. Some, it is true, require protection from wet in winter in localities with a heavy winter rainfall, but in dry parts of the country where properly planted this is not necessary. Androsacc carnea, however, does not require even this, and it has been cultivated successfully even in wet localities without anything to throw off the rain. It is a most attractive little rock msmine, which will flourish either in the crevices between the rocks or on a level or slightly sloping part of the rock work, where it is planted in light, peaty sou with plenty of grit and the freest drain age. There it should spread into little lovely low cushions or mats composed of small, bright green foliage with hardly any hairs except on the edge. On this are set the lovely pale pink flowers, elevated on stems two or three inches high, and presenting, in association _ with the emerald of the leaves, a combination of perfect charm. . The precise shade of pink varies in different plants, some of which have been dignified with specific or xarwtal names, although this seems rather superfluous where the plants naturally vary greatly. One of the finest of these is that called A. carnea Laggeri, or. very frequently, simply A. Laggeri. This is dwarfer and neater in its deep shade of green foliage, and is made more precious by the increased brilliancy of its pink flowers, which are, in addition more lavishly borne on the plant. A. carnea eximia is also a charming and brighter-coloured variety now quite scarce in gardens. MODIOLA GERANIOIDES. It is a little puzzling to ascertain the exact tiile of the little plant which I have known under two or three names, but which I have lost sight of for some years, although it is still in commerce. Forty or more years ago, I purchased it under the above name, but afterwards saw that it was said to be svnonymous with Malvastrnm Gilliesii. Then the Kew Handlist recorded it as Modialastrum geranioides, a title which I could not find in the original volumes of the Indez Kewensis. A reference to the various entries in the latter work does not help one much, as Malvastrum geranioides and M. Gilliesii are both given under the heading of malvastrum, Mr Reginald Farrer retained the name of Modiola geranioides, which I am also employing, in writing of this plant. This information may be said to he purely academic, but it is important that intending nurchasers of a plant should know by what titles it may be found in lists, and it is exceedingly annoying to find such differences in the nomenclature of such a pleasing little plant. Modiola geranioides came to me originally from Messrs Barr and Sons, and was appreciated by the writer and his friends who were interested in rock garden plants. It gave much pleasure with its trailing habit, its pretty, divided leaves and its numerous, carmine-cherry-coloured flowers of medium size. It proved an excellent plant for the rock garden, and had only one failing, though this was a serious and disconcerting one. It did not appear able to resist a severe winter in our climate. After a year or two it died, and many replacements which I made afterwards in this and other gardens met with the same fate under similar conditions during the winter months. It is not difficult to understand why this modiola. or modiolastrum, should be tender, as it transpires that it is a native of Chili, though Mr Farrer said that it was a native of North America. Yet I feel pretty confident that there are many rock gardens in the milder parts of the British Isles where, at least in warm, sheltered positions, it can be grown with success and will prove hardy. It loves a light, well-drained soil, and not only for its scarcity, but also for its beauty, it merits the consideration of those who are about to plant alpino flowers.—S. Arnott, in the Gardeners’ Chronicle.