HARDY PERENNIALS

Otago Witness, Issue 2010, 1 September 1892, Page 5

HARDY PERENNIALS

By J. Gkbbie, Jun.

The best of all plants for flower garden decoration are those known as perennials* They rank among the most popular of all garden flowers, and their popularity is justly merited, for among them are many gems of the floral world ; and a border filled with a good variety of these hardy plants is a constant source of pleasure from September to* May. This class of plant is especially desirable to many on accountof their living in the open border from year to year, increasing in size and beauty as they get well established. If the ground for their reception is trenched, at the time of planting all that will be required afterwards will be tho annual digging and keeping free from, weeds during the summer , months. _ The nurserymen are now paying more attention to this class than formerly, so that a very good selection can easily be obtained at a slight cost, which will yield a supply of blooms at all seasons, and as planting may yet be done I will note a few of the best for that purpose. Achillea Ptarmica.— A hardy perennial, with pure white and perfectly double flowers in largo sprays, making it one of the finest cut flowers for bouquets, vases, &c. Al.ysum Saxatile — A Tcry showy, dwarfgrowiug plant, blooming in the eorly spring. Anemone, " Honorine Jobert." — A splendid autumn flowering plant, bearing a large quantity of pure white flowers, valuable for cutting. Armeria Grandiflora.— A useful border plant, bearing white flowers for a long period. 1 Campanula Persicifdlia (double).-— A beauti-. fuS border plant, bearing double white flowers resembling camellia blooms. Very good for ■Ixwwuets. , AU lhn other varieties of campanulas catalogued by the Dunedin nurserymen aro well worth growing. I mention this one as being new and a gem amongst campanulas. Carnations. — These are universal favourites, and no flower garden is complete without a good collection. Their ease of culture, beautiS'ul form, and vaiied colours are qualities which nrecoromend them to every one. Chrysanthemum Maximum. — The true variety grows about 2ft high, forming a bushy plant covered with blooms about 3in across ; colour, white. Chrysanthemum , Inodorum. — Produces double white flowersj fine for cutting. • Delphinium (Perennial Larkspur).— A magnificent class of plants, throwing up flower spikes 3ft to 6ft high, covered with floweis. the priucipal colour being blue. By cutting off the flower stalks, when they begin to fade, new ones will spring up, and a second crop of flowers -will be the result, thus prolonging the flowering period. - . . Dictamnus Fraxinella.— An erect growing plant with long spikes of purple flowers. Dielytra Spectabilis (Bleeding Heart).— One of the most lovely plants grown. Very hardy. Gaillardia Grandiflora.— A very showy and free flowering plant, bearing a profusion of

large yellow flowers, with crimson zone at tho base of the petals. Good for cutting. Geum Coccineum. — A useful border plant with double scarlet flowors. Helianthus Multiflorus (Double Perennial Sunflower), —This grand plant grows about sft high, branching ' freely, and producing a great profusion of double golden-yellow flowers for several months. Heleborus Niger and Heleborus St. Brigid are two beautiful winter flowering plants. They require a damp and shady place to grow in, otherwise they require frequent waterings during the summer.

' Lathyrus Alba and L. Rosea (known as Everlasting Pea). — Beautiful perennial climbers, bloom in fine large clusters. Invaluablo for covering old stumps, fences, or any unsightly objects. Papaver Orientate (Oriental Poppy). — A hardy and profuse blooming plant. Its blossoms are borne on tall, graceful stems, are as large as a saucer ; colour scarlet with black centre. From seed the colours vary.

•PeiJt«temon. — A very ornamental class ef plants with long and beautiful spikes of richly coloured flowers, very effective iv beds, borders, &c.

Salvia Patens. — A hardy tuberous rooted perennial, producing flowers of the loveliest shade of blue ever Sfcen in any flower. A great favourite, ami when one c seen is always wanted. Scabiosa C»ucftsica.~An easily gruwn plant, bearing profusely large, light blue flowers for many months. ■ Very useful for cut flowers. ; Sjjitaja Japonica. — This is one of the most graceful of spring ' flowering plants, bearing spikes of purei white flowers, very useful for bouquets. : Spirasa Palmata.— A strong growing variety with rosy-orimson flowers. ■: Spiram FilapenduJa and its double variety are two very- pretty plants, with fern-like foliage, and large clusters of white flowers, flowering during the summer and autumn. j Phlox. — Perennial phlox aro the mosfciuteresting of all our herbaceous plants. Their hardiness.and easiness of. culture, with variety and beauty of colours, renders them particularly valuable for the decoration of Ilia flower garden. ! Trollius Europceus. — A compact growing plant with lemon-yellow,flowers ; very pretty. ,'Tritoma Uvaria. — A splendid plant for the tfie back of borders, with flower stem 3ft to sft high covered with rich orange red-tinted flowers. Will thrive in any ordinary garden soil, but grow stronger where the coil is moist. Known also by the name of Red-hot Poker. pßeside the above there are a host of other good things too well known to need describing, su<sh as pseony, pansy, auriculas, antirrhinum, and others — all showy and useful plants ; and by planting freely a continuous floral display will be the result. Public Gardens, Oamaru. i