Another fine species is the [Spanish Bluebell] (S. hispanica or S. campanulata), perhaps the finest-looking Bluebell in the open air. The ordinary variety has porcelain-blue flowers on stalks a foot or more high. It is surpassed in beauty, however, by its white variety alba, which flowers freely and grows vigorously. There are also forms with pink or rosy flowers, such as rosea or carnea, rubra, &c., all of which appear in April and May.
The species, however, that finds so much favour for autumn planting is S. sibirica, a charming species, with purple-coated bulbs, and bright porcelain-blue blossoms with more or less spreading segments. They appear in February and March on stalks 3 to 6 inches high, but are more numerous in the variety called multiflora (see [Plate 2], fig. 7). Owing to its early blooming, it is of course a great favourite with other early flowering plants.
Other kinds of Scilla that may be grown in the open air in the same way as those already mentioned are:—The [Star Hyacinth] (S. amoena), which requires rather warm sheltered spots. It has bright indigo blue flowers with spreading segments from March to May. S. bifolia grows 6 to 9 inches high, and produces its bright-blue, bell-shaped flowers in March. There are several forms of it, such as alba, white, rosea, pale rose, &c. S. hyacinthoides, bluish-lilac; S. italica, blue; S. verna, porcelain-blue; S. patula, deep blue with white edges; and S. monophylla, with blue or violet flowers, all appearing in April and May.
Quite distinct in appearance from all these is S. peruviana, which, by the way, is not a native of Peru, but of the Mediterranean region. It has large, pear-shaped bulbs, and rosettes of leaves 6 to 12 inches long, with bristly margins. The bright blue starry blossoms appear in May and June, and are borne in broadly conical clusters, which elongate during the flowering period. There are white (alba) and yellow (lutea) varieties, the first-named of which is shown on [Plate 17], fig. 69.
This species may be grown in warm sheltered spots in the border or rock-garden, in dryish, well-drained soil. The bulbs should be planted 4 to 6 inches deep, and in cold localities should be protected from severe frosts in winter.
Scillas may be increased by offsets taken from the old bulbs when the foliage has withered.
[SISYRINCHIUM] grandiflorum.—This is the best garden plant out of about fifty species. Like Schizostylis coccinea, it can scarcely be called a "bulbous" plant, as it has only short thickened rootstocks. It grows about a foot high, having striated leaves, and deep purple blossoms (as shown in [Plate 20], fig. 79), which, however, are white in the variety album. It is an excellent plant for the rock-garden, where it should be planted in bold clumps, in light sandy loam and peat. Increased by division of the rootstocks about September.
[SPARAXIS.]—The plant best known under this name has been already described as Dierama pulcherrima at [p. 71]. The Sparaxis proper are little known plants, the best known being (i) grandiflora, which grows 1 to 2 feet high, and has bell-shaped flowers of deep violet-purple in April and May. There are many colour variations of this species (including a white one), several of them having a deeper coloured blotch at the base of the petals. (ii) Tricolor, resembles grandiflora in appearance, but has rich orange-red blossoms with purple-brown blotches on the yellow base of the petals. There are also several forms of this species with white, rose, or purple flowers, all having a yellow centre with distinct blotches at the base of the petals.
These South African plants require the same treatment as Dierama pulcherrima or the Ixias (see [p. 89]). They like warm sheltered spots in the mildest parts of the kingdom, and when well-grown are very showy and useful for cutting.