Hardy Perennials and Old Fashioned Flowers | Page 3

the walk or track of the rock garden.
It is self-propagating, but when it is desirable to move a tuft of it, it
should be done during the growing season, so that it may begin to root
at once and get established, otherwise the wind and frosts will displace
it.
It blooms from June to September, more or less, but only the earliest
flowers produce well-coloured spines.

Achillea Ægyptica.
EGYPTIAN YARROW; Nat. Ord. COMPOSITÆ.
This is an evergreen (though herb-like) species. It has been grown for
more than 200 years in English gardens, and originally came, as its
name implies, from Egypt. Notwithstanding the much warmer climate
of its native country, it proves to be one of the hardiest plants in our
gardens. I dare say many will think the Yarrows are not worthy of a
place in the garden; but it should not be forgotten that not only are fine
and useful flowers included in this work, but also the good
"old-fashioned" kinds, and that a few such are to be found amongst the
Yarrows is without doubt. Could the reader see the collection now
before me, cut with a good piece of stem and some foliage, and pushed
into a deep vase, he would not only own that they were a pleasing
contrast, but quaintly grand for indoor decoration.
A. Ægyptica not only produces a rich yellow flower, but the whole

plant is ornamental, having an abundance of finely-cut foliage, which,
from a downy or nappy covering, has a pleasing grey or silvery
appearance. The flowers are produced on long stems nearly 2ft. high,
furnished at the nodes with clean grey tufts of smaller-sized leaves;
near the top the stems are all but naked, and are terminated by the flat
heads or corymbs of closely-packed flowers. They are individually
small, but the corymbs will be from 2in. to 3in. across. Their form is
that of the common Yarrow, but the colour is a bright light yellow. The
leaves are 6in. to 8in. long, narrow and pinnate, the leaflets of irregular
form, variously toothed and lobed; the whole foliage is soft to the touch,
from the nappy covering, as already mentioned. Its flowers, from their
extra fine colour, are very telling in a cut state. The plant is suitable for
the borders, more especially amongst other old kinds. Ordinary garden
loam suits it, and its propagation may be carried out at any time by root
division.
Flowering period, June to September.

Achillea Filipendula.
Nat. Ord. COMPOSITÆ.
This grows 4ft. high, and the foliage, though fern-like, has an untidy
appearance, from the irregular way in which it is disposed. It is
herbaceous, and comes from the Caucasus. The flowers are somewhat
singular, arranged in corymbs of a multiplex character; they are very
large, often 5in. across. The smaller corymbs are arched or convex,
causing the cluster or compound corymb to present an uneven surface;
the small flowers are of rich old gold colour, and have the appearance
of knotted gold cord; they are very rigid, almost hard. The leaves are
linear, pinnate, lobed and serrated, hairy, rough, and numerously
produced. From the untidy and tall habit of this subject, it should be
planted in the background; its flowers, however, will claim a prominent
position in a cut state; they are truly rich, the undulating corymbs have
the appearance of embossed gold plate, and their antique colour and
form are compared to gold braid by a lady who admires

"old-fashioned" flowers. It will last for several weeks after being cut,
and even out of water for many days. A few heads placed in an old vase,
without any other flowers, are rich and characteristic, whilst on bronze
figures and ewers in a dry state, and more especially on ebony or other
black decorations, it may be placed with a more than floral effect. In
short, rough as the plant is, it is worth growing for its quaint and rich
flowers alone; it is seldom met with. Soil and propagation, the same as
for A. Ægyptica.
Flowering period, June to September.

Achillea Millefolium.
COMMON MILFOIL; Nat. Ord. COMPOSITÆ.
This is the well-known wild Yarrow; it is, however, the typical form of
a fine variety, called A. m. roseum, having very bright rose-coloured
flowers, which in all other respects resembles the wild form. Both as a
border subject and for cutting purposes, I have found it useful; it
flowers for several months, but the individual blooms fade in four or
six days; these should be regularly removed. The freshly-opened
corymbs are much admired. Soil and mode of propagation, the same as
for previous kinds.
Flowering period, June to November.

Achillea Ptarmica.
Syns. A. SYLVESTRIS and PTARMICA VULGARIS; Common
Names, WILD YARROW, SNEEZEWORT, GOOSE-TONGUE, and
WILD PELLITORY; Nat. Ord. COMPOSITÆ.
A very