FLOWERS AND SHRUBS THAT DELIGHT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 11

FLOWERS AND SHRUBS THAT DELIGHT.

NEW SHRUBS. More new plants of real interest will bo found among the shrubs than in the lists of perennials and arinuals. A new Spiraea from Korea called Spinea Tricliocarpa is strikingly handsome, with long arching stems carrying clusters of snowwhite flowers. It will supplement the well-known spinea Van Ilorttei, as it comes a little later. Then there is Kolkwitzia Amabilis. another new and- very useful shrub which seems likely to have a prominent place in the future of gardens. The flowers are much like those of the lobelia. This kolkwitzia. which is a Chinese shrub, is said to be very hardy and adapted to garden planting anywhere. Then there is the Korean box, which has proved quite hardy, and is likely to become a widely planted shrub in variation of the common box for making low hedges. This Korean box is dwarf, but makes a strong upright growth, and has wedge-shaped leaves. BABY’S BREATH AND POPPIES. Gypsophila Paniculata. which is commonly known as Baby’s Breath, is always in demand by garden makers because of its value for bouquets as well as its attractive appearance in the garden. Several new and very useful varieties are now being offered in England and America. One of them, called Bristol Fa’ry, was tested out in many gardens last season, and proved its worth. , It is a stronggrowing plant, with large flowers which remain In bloom a long time. Another new variety is called Snow-White, and is, as its name suggests, much whiter than the kinds ordinarily seen. Poppies are among the most useful of garden flowers. They never seem to clash with other kinds, and many of them come up year after year from self-sown seeds. One of this year's novelties which seems to have special merit is the Iceland poppy called Tibet. The flowers are a brilliant orange in colour, but different from those of any other Iceland poppy. They are large, and are produced freely. This is a plant to be chosen for autumn blooms, because it comes into flower in that season. Many garden makers will consider this a great merit, because autumn-flowering plants are none too common. SALMON-PINK SNAPDRAGONS. Few flowers are more useful for cutting than the snapdragons. These plants are really perennials, but are better grown as annuals. As they require a fairly long season, it is necessary to start them in boxes of earth in the house in early spring. When this plan is followed, strong plants may be set out when danger of frost is past, and will start to flower in early summer, giving a continuous bloom until the end of the season. Weld Pink is a recent introduction which is particularly handsome. In colour it is a charming salmon-pink with deep orange in the throat. This variety, which was originated in New England, U.S.A., has been given a certificate by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, which indicates its worth. Another new variety called Exquisite has soft silvery-pink flowers, and a third, which has been named Twilight, is delicate apricot in colour with an old-gold setting. This is a particularly good flower for cutting, looking better than most kinds under artificial light. THE GAILLARDIA. Although some garden makers consider gaillardias rather too gaudy for the flower borders, they are excellent flowers for cutting, and will stand a greater amount of heat and drought than almost any other perennial. Because of these facts, they are very useful, and a new kind, called Portola is especially noteworthy. The flowers are very large in size, with colours ranging through shades of red and yellow. A NEW LUPIN. Another interesting hardy perennial which may be rated as a novelty is a fragrant lupin, whicv has been given the name of Elliott’s Sweet-scented Lupin. Lupins have been greatly improved in recent years, and are among the most useful of garden flowers. Cne of the advantages found in lupins lies in thenrapid growth. Seeds sown outdoors in early spring will give flowers before the dose of the season, "’hile the next year the plants wi" ' ri'- to bloom in early summer and ' r until autumn, if prevented from going to seed. COLTNESS HYBRID DAHLIAS. In England it is customary to grow from seed a large percentage of the dahlias seen in the gardens instead of using tubers. There are some of the dahlias which will readily produce flowers the first year from spring-sown seeds, and among the bent to experiment with are tie dwarf dahlias which carry the name of Coltness hybrids. These little plants grow only about ISin high, but bloom continually until frost sets in. They are single, about 3in in diameter, and excellent for cutting. These dwarf dahlias make splendid bedding plants, and in England are being used in place of geraniums and begonias in the public parks. CYCLAMEN BRIGHT AND GAY. The cyclamen is a bulbous-rooted plant, lovely of foliage, and abundant in large, fragrant, pea-like solitary flowers. In some types the edges are gracefully fluted and waved. The leaves of most varieties are wiefe, blotched, and marbled with light green

on a darker surface, with reddish veins.

llhile it is generally considered the best practice to buy young plants each season, rather than to keep them over, good results can be had by proper handling. The bulb should be pressed down on top of the soil to only al»out half its depth, letting the remaining half be out. of the soil to “ breathe.'” A 7in pot is a suitable size, and the soil should be rich, with plenty of sand in it. A cyclamen does not require a great deal of water, but should be kept reasonably moist during the flowering season. A weekly application of liquid manure during this period will help to increase the size and brilliancy of the flowers.

In summer a cyclamen should be inactive. Dry it off gradually and set the pot out of doors in some shadv place where the plants will get lots of fresh air. It will probably lose its leaves, but this is not a matter of concern. It is all the better for the plant. As long as the bulbs remain plump and hard they are all right. During resting period give merely enough water to keep the bulbs in the condition mentioned.