BRITISH PLANTS CULTIVATED FOR ORNAMENTAL PURPOSES.
1. ALISMA Plantago. I cannot pass over this beautiful aquatic without giving it a place amongst the ornamental plants with which our country abounds. In pieces of water this is of considerable interest both as to flowers and foliage, and no place of the kind should ever be destitute of such a beauty. It is of easy culture; the plant taken from its place of growth and sunk into the water with a stone to keep it in its place, is a ready and easy mode of planting it, and there is no fear when once introduced but it will succeed.
2. ANDROMEDA polifolia. This is a beautiful little shrub, and grown in gardens for the sake of its flowers; it is also an evergreen. This plant will not succeed unless it is planted in bog earth,—for a description of which see page 152 of this volume.
3. AQUILEGIA vulgaris. COLUMBINE.—We have scarcely a plant affording more beauty or greater variety than this. It is commonly, when found wild, of a blue colour, but when the seeds are sown in the garden a variety of tints is produced. It is a perennial, but easily raised from seed, which should be sown in the spring.
4. ANTHEMIS maritima. A double-flowering variety of this plant used to be common in the gardens near London, but is now scarce: it is very beautiful, and constantly in bloom during summer. It is propagated by planting the roots in the spring and autumn.
5. ANTIRRHINUM linaria, v. Peloria.—I cannot pass over this singular and beautiful flower without notice. There is a fine figure of it in the Flora Londinensis: it is very ornamental, and the structure of the bloom is truly interesting. It is easily propagated by planting the roots in the spring months, but it is not common.
6. ANTIRRHINUM majus. SNAPDRAGON.—This is also a plant deserving the attention of the lover of flowers: it is capable of culture into many very beautiful and interesting varieties.
7. BELLIS perennis. DAISY.—This plant affords us many very beautiful varieties for the flower garden. The large Red Daisy and all the other fine kinds are only this plant improved by culture.
8. BUTOMIS umbellatus. This is an aquatic, and well adapted to ornament pieces of water. Its beautiful flowers in the summer months are inferior to scarcely any plants growing in such places, and its foliage will form protection for any birds, &c., which are usually kept in such places. It is easily propagated by planting it in such places.
9. CALTHA palustris. MARSH MARIGOLD.—This fine yellow flower is also made double by culture, and finds a place in the flower garden.
10. CHEIRANTHUS fruticulosus. WALLFLOWER.—Is a plant possessing great beauty, and very interesting on account of its fine scent. We have this plant also improved by culture, making many fine double varieties. It is a biennial, and easily raised from seeds, which should be sown in June. The double varieties are cultivated by cuttings of the branches.
11. CYPRIPEDIUM Calceolus. LADIES SLIPPER.—A flower of the most uncommon beauty, but is now become scarce; it is a native of the woods near Skipton in Yorkshire, but has been so much sought for by the lovers of plants as to become almost extinct. It is difficult to propagate; but when the plants have been for some years growing, will admit of being parted, so that it may be increased in that way: it will not bear to be often removed, and should be left to grow in the same place for several years without being disturbed. It succeeds best in bog earth or rotten leaves.
12. DELPHINIUM Ajacis. LARKSPUR.—This is also an annual flower, affording a pleasing variety in the flower garden in the summer months. For it culture, see p. 188.
13. DIANTHUS Caryophyllus. THE CARNATION.—All our fine varieties of the carnation are the produce of this plant.
The common single variety produces seed in great abundance, but the improved double varieties are sparing in produce: the fine kinds of this flower are reared by layers put down about the month of July; they may also be propagated by cuttings, but the other is the most eligible and certain mode.
14. EPILOBIUM angustifolium. A plant of singular ornament. There is also a white variety of this found in gardens.
15. ERICA vulgaris. There is now in cultivation in the gardens a double-flowering variety of this plant, which is highly interesting and of singular beauty. It grows readily in bog earth, and is raised by layers.
16. ERICA Daboeica. IRISH HEATH.—A plant of singular beauty and of easy culture; and being of small growth and almost constantly in bloom, has also obtained a place in the shrubbery.
17. FRITILLARIA Meleagris. A very ornamental bulbous plant, of which the Dutch gardeners have many improved varieties, varying in the colour and size of the blossoms: these are usually imported in August, and should be immediately planted, as the bulbs will not keep long when out of ground, unless they are covered with sand.
18. GALANTHUS nivalis. SNOWDROP.—The first of the productions of Flora which reminds us of the return of spring after the dark and dreary days of winter. This plant is also made double by cultivation, but is not handsomer than the common wild one. The best time for planting the bulbs of Snowdrops is in the month of September.
19. GENTIANA verna. VERNAL GENTIAN.—A delightful little plant of the finest blue colour the Flora exhibits in all her glory: its scent is also delightful: it is somewhat scarce and difficult to procure; but if more generally known, few gardens would be destitute of such a treasure. It is of tolerably easy culture, and grows well in loam: it is small, and is best kept in a pot.
20. GENTIANA Pneumonanthe. MARSH GENTIAN.—Is also a beautiful plant, and grows well in any moist place. From its beautiful blue flowers it is well adapted to the flower garden; it delights in bog earth.
21. GERANIUM phaeum. BLACK-FLOWERED GERANIUM.—This is a perennial, and makes a fine ornamental plant for the shrubbery: it will grow in any soil and situation.
22. GLAUCUM Phoeniceum. PURPLE HORN POPPY.—An annual flower of singular beauty, and deserving a place in the flower garden.
23. GNAPHALIUM margaritaceum. AMERICAN CUDWEED.—This plant affords beautiful white flowers, which drying and keeping their colour, it is worth attention on that account, as it affords a pleasing variety with the different Xeranthema, and others of the like class in winter.
24. HIERACUM aurantiacum. GRIM-THE-COLLIER.—This is an old inhabitant of our gardens, and affords a pleasing variety.
25. HOTTONIA palustris. WATER VIOLET.—This is a plant of singular beauty in spring; it is an aquatic, and makes a fine appearance in our ponds in the time of its bloom.
26. IBERIS amara. CANDYTUFT.—An annual flower of considerable beauty and interest. We have several varieties of this sold in the seed-shops.
27. IMPATIENS NOLI ME TANGERE.—A very curious flower which is grown as an annual. The construction of the seed-vessel causing the seeds to be discharged with an elastic force is a pleasing phaenomenon.
28. LATHYRUS sylvestris.—EVERLASTING PEA.—This is also a great ornament, and frequently found in gardens; it grows very readily from seeds sown in the spring of the year.
29. LEUCOJUM aestivum. SUMMER SNOW FLAKE.—This is a very noxious plant in the meadows where it grows wild. I have seen it in the neighbourhood of Wooking in Surrey quite overpower the grass with its herbage in the spring, and no kind of that animal that we know of will eat it.
It is however considered an ornamental plant, and is often found in our flower gardens. It is of easy culture: the roots may be planted in any of the autumn or winter months.
30. MALVA moschata. MUSK MALLOW.—This makes a fine appearance when in bloom, for which purpose it is often propagated in gardens: its scent, which is strong of vegetable musk, is also very pleasant.
31. MELLITIS mellyssophyllum. MELLITIS grandiflora. BASTARD BALM.—Both these plants are very beautiful, and are deserving a place in the flower garden: they are of easy culture, and will grow well under the shade of trees, a property that will always recommend them to the notice of the curious.
32. MENYANTHES Nymphoides. ROUND-LEAVED BOG BEAN.—This is a beautiful aquatic, and claims a place in all ornamental pieces of water.
33. NARCISSUS poeticus. NARCISSUS Pseudo Narcissus.—These are much cultivated in gardens for the sake of the flowers. The florists have by culture made several varieties, as Double blossoms which are great ornaments. The season for planting the bulbs of Narcissus of all kinds is the month of October: they will grow well in any soil, and thrive best under the shade of trees.
34. NUPHAR minima is also beautiful, but it is not common. It will form an ornament for pieces of water.
35. NYMPHAEA alba. NYMPHAEA lutea.—These are aquatics, and scarcely any plant is more deserving of our attention. The fine appearance of the foliage floating on the surface, which is interspersed with beautiful flowers, will render any piece of water very interesting: it should also be observed that gold-fish are found to thrive best when they have the advantage of the shade of these plants. It is difficult in deep water to make them take root, being liable to float on the surface, in which state they will not succeed. But if the plants are placed in some strong clay or loam tied down in wicker baskets and then placed in the water, there is no fear of their success: they should be placed where the water is sufficiently deep to inundate the roots two feet or a little more.
36. OPHRYS apifera. BEE ORCHIS.—There are few plants that are more generally admired than all the Orchideae for their singular beauty and uncommon structure. The one in question so very much resembles the humble-bee in appearance, that I have known persons mistake this flower for the animal. It is unfortunate for the amateurs of gardening that most plants of this tribe are difficult of propagation, and are not of easy culture. I have sometimes succeeded with this and other species, by the following method:—to take up the roots from their native places of growth as early as they can be found, and then procure some chalk and sift it through a fine sieve, and also some good tenacious loam; mix both in equal quantities in water; a large garden-pot should then be filled with some rubble of chalk, about one third deep, and then the above compost over it, placing the roots in the centre, at the usual depth they grew before. As the water drains away, the loam and chalk will become fixed closely round the bulbs, and they will remain alive and grow. By this method I have cultivated these plants for some years together.
In this way all those kinds growing in chalk may be made to grow; but such as the Orchis moryo, maculata, and pyramidalis, may be grown in loam alone, planted in pots in the common way. Care should be taken that the pots in which they are planted are protected from wet and frost in the winter season.
37. ORNITHOGALUM latifolium and umbellatum are also ornamental, and are often cultivated for their beautiful flower. The season for planting the bulbs is about the month of September.
38. PAPAVER somniferum. GREATER POPPY. PAPAVER Rhoeas. CARNATION POPPY. —These are made by culture into numerous varieties, and are very beautiful; but the aroma, which is pregnant with opium, renders too many of them unpleasant for the garden.
39. POLEMONIUM coeruleum. GREEK VALERIAN, or JACOB'S LADDER.—Is also a beautiful perennial, and claims the notice of the gardener. Its variety, with white flowers, is also ornamental. It is raised from seeds, which are sold in plenty in our seed-shops.
40. PRIMULA officinalis. COWSLIP. PRIMULA vulgaris. PRIMROSE. PRIMULA elatior. OXLIP. PRIMULA farinose. BIRD'S EYE.—All well known ornaments of numerous varieties, double and single. The third species is the parent of the celebrated Polyanthus. The last is also an interesting little plant with a purple flower. It grows best in bog earth.
41. ROSA rubiginosa. SWEET BRIAR.—This lovely and highly extolled shrub has long claimed a place in our gardens. We have several varieties with double flowers, which are highly prized by the amateurs of gardening.
42. SAXIFRAGA umbrosa. LONDON PRIDE.—-A beautiful little plant for forming edgings to the flower garden, or for decorating rock-work.
43. SAXIFRAGA oppositifolia. PURPLE SAXIFRAGE.—Perhaps we have few flowers early in the spring that deserve more attention than this. It blooms in the months of February and March, and in that dreary season, in company with the Snow-drop, Crocus, and Hepaticas, will form a most delightful group of Flora's rich production. The Saxifrage is a native of high mountains, and it can only be propagated by being continually exposed to the open and bleakest part of the garden: it succeeds best in pots. It should be parted every spring, and a small piece about the size of a shilling planted in the centre of a small pot, and it will fill the surface by the autumn. The soil bestsuited to it is loam.
44. SEDUM acre. STONE CROP. SEDUM rupestre. ROCK GINGER.—All the species of Sedums are very ornamental plants, and are useful for covering rocks or walls, where they will generally grow with little trouble. The easiest mode of propagating and getting them to grow on such places is first to make the place fit for their reception, by putting thereon a little loam made with a paste of cow-dung; then chopping the plants in small pieces, and strowing them on the place: if this is done in the spring, the places will be well covered in a short time.
45. STATICE Armeria. THRIFT.—This plant is valuable for making edgings to the flower garden. It should be parted, and planted for this purpose either in the months of August and September, or April and May.
46. STIPA pinnata. FEATHER GRASS.—We have few plants of more interest than this; its beautiful feathery bloom is but little inferior to the plumage of the celebrated Bird of Paradise. It is frequently worn in the head-dress of ladies.
47. SWERTIA perennis. MARSH SWERTIA.—This is a beautiful little plant, and worth the attention of all persons who are fond of flowers that will grow in boggy land. It is a perennial, and of easy culture.
48. TROLLIUS europaeus. GLOBE FLOWER.—This is also a fine plant: when cultivated in a moist soil its beautiful yellow flowers afford a pleasing accompaniment to the flower border and parterre in the spring of the year. It is easily raised by parting its roots.
49. TULIPA sylvestris.—This beautiful flower is also an inhabitant of our flower-gardens; it is called the Sweet-scented Florentine Tulip. It has a delightful scent when in bloom, and is highly worthy the attention of amateurs of flower gardens. It should be planted in September, and will grow in almost any soil or situation.
50. TYPHA latifolia. TYPHA angustifolia. TYPHA minor.—These are all very fine aquatics, and worth a place in all pieces of water; the foliage forms a fine shelter for water-fowl.
51. VIOLA tricolor. HEART'S-EASE.—Is an annual of singular beauty, and forms many pleasing and interesting varieties.
52. VIOLA odorata must not be passed over among our favourite native flowers. This is of all other plants in its kind the most interesting. It forms also several varieties; as Double purple, Double white, and the Neapolitan violet. The latter one is double, of a beautiful light blue colour, and flowers early; it is rather tender, and requires the protection of a hot-bed frame during winter. It is best cultivated in pots.
53. VINCA minor. LESSER PERIWINKLE.—This is also a beautiful little evergreen, of which the gardeners have several varieties in cultivation; some with double flowers, others with white and red-coloured corols, which form a pleasing diversity in summer.
54. VINCA major. GREAT PERIWINKLE.-I know of no plant of more beauty, when it is properly managed, than this. It is an evergreen of the most pleasing hue, and will cover any low fences or brick-work in a short space of time. The flowers, which are purple, form a pleasing variety in the spring months.
* * * * *