Red Valerian, Centranthus ruber.—This showy and pleasing plant is only seen in highest perfection on elevated banks, rubbish–heaps, or old walls, in which positions it endures much longer than on the level ground, and becomes a long–lived perennial with a shrubby base. On the long bridge across the Nore at Col. Tighe’s place, Woodstock, Kilkenny, it grows in abundance, forming a long line on the wall above the arches; of course it could be easily grown on ruins, while it is invaluable for banks of all kinds, chalk pits, etc., and also for the level ground, except in heavy cold soils. Some of the larger Valerianas would grow freely in rough places, but none of them are so distinct as the preceding.
Knap–weed, Centaurea.—Vigorous perennial or annual herbaceous plants, seldom so pretty as autumn–sown plants of our corn bluebottle (C. Cyanus). They are scarcely important enough for borders; hence the wild wood is the place for them. Among the most suitable kinds may be mentioned macrocephala, montana, babylonica, and uniflora, the last more suitable for banks, etc.
Mouse–ear, Cerastium.—Dwarf spreading perennials, bearing a profusion of white flowers. Half a dozen or more of the kinds have silvery leaves, which, with their flowers, give them an attractive character. Most of these are used as bedding plants, but, as they will grow in any position where they are not choked by coarser plants, they may be employed with good effect in the wild garden.
Wallflower, Cheiranthus.—The varieties of the common wallflower afford quite a store of beauty in themselves for the embellishment of rocky places, old walls, etc. Probably other species of Cheiranthus will be found to grow on ruins quite as well, but at present we are not quite sure of these. The clear yellow Erysimum ochroleucum is very like a wallflower in type, and thrives well in dry sandy places. With these might be associated Vesicaria utriculata.[ill132]
The foliage of the Meadow Saffron in Spring.
Meadow Saffron, Colchicum.—In addition to the meadow saffron, plentifully dotted over the moist fields in various parts of England, there are several other species which could be readily naturalised in almost any soil and position. They would be particularly desirable where subjects that flower in autumn would be sought; and they are charming, seen in tufts or colonies on the lawn or in the pleasure–ground.
Crocus.—One or two Crocuses are naturalised in England already, and there is scarcely one of them that will not succeed thus if properly placed. They should not be placed where coarse vegetation would choke them up or prevent the sun getting to their flowers and leaves. Some of the delicately–tinted varieties of vernus are well worth dotting about in grassy places and on sunny slopes, if only to accompany the snowdrop. C. Imperati is a valuable early–flowering kind, and the autumnal flowering ones are particularly desirable; but we must not particularise where all are good. “In the plantations here,” writes a correspondent, “on each side of a long avenue, we have the common Crocus in every shade of purple (there are scarcely any yellow ones) growing literally in hundreds of thousands. We have no record of when the roots were originally planted (and the oldest people about the estate say they have always been the same as far as their recollection goes); but they grow so thickly that it is quite impossible to step where they are without treading on two or three flowers. The effect produced by them in spring is magnificent, but unfortunately, their beauty is but short–lived. I have transplanted a good many roots to the wild garden, to the great improvement of the size of the individual blooms; they are so matted together in the shrubberies I have mentioned, and have remained so long in the same place, that the flowers are small.”[ill133]
The White–flowered European Clematis (C. erecta).