Hardy Perennials and Old Fashioned Flowers | Page 5

June to August.
Both of the above Alliums may be grown in any odd parts which need
decorating with subjects requiring little care; any kind of soil will do
for them, but if planted too near the walks the flowers are liable to be
cut by persons who may not be aware of their evil odour. The bulbs
may be divided every three years with advantage, and may be usefully
planted in lines in front of shrubs, or mixed with other strong-growing
flowers, such as alkanets, lupins, and foxgloves.

Alyssum Saxatile.
ROCK MADWORT, or GOLDEN TUFT; Nat. Ord. CRUCIFERÆ.
[Illustration: FIG. 3. ALYSSUM SAXATILE.
(One-third natural size.)]
This pleasing and well-known hardy, evergreen, half-woody shrub is
always a welcome flower. From its quantity of bloom all its other parts

are literally smothered (see Fig. 3). When passing large pieces of it in
full blow, its fragrant honey smell reminds one of summer clover
fields.
Its golden yellow flowers are densely produced in panicles on
procumbent stems, 12in. to 18in. long. The little flowers, from distinct
notches in the petals, have a different appearance from many of the
order Cruciferæ, as, unless they are well expanded, there seem to be
eight instead of four petals. The leaves are inversely ovate, lanceolate,
villose, and slightly toothed. A specimen will continue in good form
during average weather for about three weeks. It is not only seen to
most advantage on rockwork, where its prostrate stems can fall over the
stones, but the dry situation is in accordance with its requirements; still,
it is not at all particular, but does well in any sunny situation, in any
soil that is not over moist or ill drained. It is easily and quickly
propagated by cuttings in early summer.
Flowering period, April and May.

Anchusa Italica.
ITALIAN ALKANET; Nat. Ord. BORAGINACEÆ.
[Illustration: FIG. 4. ANCHUSA ITALICA (Flower Spray).
(One-third natural size.)]
A hardy herbaceous perennial of first-class merit for gardens where
there is plenty of room; amongst shrubs it will not only prove worthy of
the situation, but, being a ceaseless bloomer, its tall and leafy stems
decked with brilliant flowers may always be relied upon for cutting
purposes; and let me add, as, perhaps, many have never tried this fine
but common flower in a large vase, the stems, if cut to the length of
18in., and loosely placed in an old-fashioned vase, without any other
flowers, are more than ornamental--they are fine.
Its main features are seen in its bold leafy stems, furnished with large,

dark blue, forget-me-not-like flowers, nearly all their length. The little
white eyes of the blossoms are very telling (see Fig. 4). The flowers are
held well out from the large leaves of the main stem by smaller ones
(from 1in. to 8in. long), at the ends of which the buds and flowers are
clustered, backed by a pair of small leaflets, like wings. Just before the
buds open they are of a bright rose colour, and when the flowers fade
the leafy calyx completely hides the withered parts, and other blooms
take their places between the wing-like pair of leaflets; so the
succession of bloom is kept up through the whole summer. The leaves
of the root are very large when fully grown during summer--over a foot
long--those of the stems are much less; all are lance-shaped and pointed,
plain at the edges, very hairy, and of a dark green colour. The stems are
numerous, upright, and, as before hinted, branched; also, like the leaves,
they are covered with stiff hairs, a characteristic common to the order.
Well-established plants will grow to the height of 3ft. to 5ft.
Flowering period, May to September.

Anchusa Sempervirens.
Nat. Ord. BORAGINACEÆ.
This is a British species, and, as its name denotes, is evergreen; not, let
me add, as a tall plant, for the stems wither or at least become very sere,
only the large leaves of the root remaining fresh; and though it has
many points of difference from A. Italica, such as shorter growth,
darker flowers and foliage, and more oval leaves--these form the
distinctions most observable. By its evergreen quality it is easily
identified in winter. There is also an important difference from the
axillary character of the flower stems. With these exceptions the
description of A. Italica will fairly hold good for this native species.
This Alkanet has various other names, as Borago sempervirens,
Buglossum s., and with old writers it, together with allied species, was
much esteemed, not only for the flowers, but for its reputed medicinal
properties. To those who care to grow these good old plants I would

say, well enrich the soil; when so treated, the results are very different
from those where the plants have been put in hungry and otherwise
neglected situations; this