HARDY BULBS
Aconitums--Alliums--Alstroemerias--Anemones
ACONITUMS
Although the effective Aconitums or Monkshoods of our gardens are
usually classed with ordinary herbaceous plants, the best of those with
tuberous roots can hardly be omitted from this work. They are of much
service in the mixed border or the wild garden, and it is only the
poisonous properties of these plants which make one view them with
suspicion. They should not be planted where any danger can result to
children or to animals. Their nomenclature is very confused but the
names below are authoritative. The following are some of the
best:--Cammarum, four feet, purple; flaccidum, six feet, violet;
heterophyllum, two feet, yellow and blue; japonicum, six feet, flesh;
Lycoctonum, a pretty yellow species, four to six feet high; Napellus,
very poisonous, in several varieties, four to six feet; paniculatum,
three feet; and variegatum, three to six feet, blue, white, or blue and
white. All of these grow in any soil and can be planted in spring or
autumn.
ALLIUMS
The Alliums can hardly be classed as among the choicest of bulbous
plants; but although not among the _élite_ of our garden flowers, there
are, however, among them some pleasing and useful flowers, and a few
remarks upon some of those most easily obtainable may be of service. It
may be premised that the Alliums are most suitable for naturalising in
grass or in wild gardens, as many of them are so prolific that they are
apt to become troublesome in the border. They usually seed very freely
and some produce offsets in great numbers, while others, again, form
little bulbils on their heads which eventually form separate
individuals. Almost all are of easy cultivation, although some of the
Central Asian and Californian species need a little protection in
winter.
A. acuminatum is a pretty dwarf species with deep rose flowers, and
other pretty dwarf forms or species of similar or deeper colour are
Bidwilliæ, Breweri, falcifolium, Fetisowii, macnabianum,
narcissiflorum, ostrowskianum, and pedemontanum. A few blue species
exist and are generally very pretty, though sometimes tender; of these,
cæruleum, cyaneum, kansuense, and violaceum may be mentioned. A great
many have white flowers and it is among these that we find the most
valued of the species. The greatest favourite is neapolitanum, so much
used for forcing, and which is grown in pots under the same treatment
as other bulbous plants. Other pretty white species are triquetrum,
subvillosum, Erdelii, and falciforme. None of the yellow species are
equal to the old A. Moly, a bright June flower, but others of worth in
their own way are flavum, and the straw-coloured stramineum. Good tall
species, some having ornamental foliage, are karataviense, giganteum,
sphærocephalum, nigrum, Suworowi, and nobile. The great drawback of the
Alliums is their odour, which is, however, not always perceptible
except when the flowers are cut.
[Illustration: ALLIUM TRIQUETRUM]
ALSTROEMERIAS
There are few finer or more useful garden flowers than the
Alstroemerias, whose brilliant colours and uncommon forms are great
attractions. As cut flowers they are highly prized. They like a free
root run, and a rather light, rich soil. The tubers should be planted
in spring, nearly a foot deep, but they are easily raised from seeds
sown in gentle heat in spring. Several of the species are too tender
for outdoor cultivation everywhere, the hardiest being A. aurantiaca,
which has yellow flowers of varying shades. Chilensis and peruviana, or
versicolor, and psittacina of gardens (syn. pulchella), are all fairly
hardy, psittacina possessing a singular combination of crimson and
green colouring. A. pelegrina and its variety alba are exceedingly
beautiful, but require frame treatment except in the south. Diazii,
Ligtu, and hæmantha (syn. Simsii) are very beautiful and more or less
hardy according to the climate and soil. Some lime rubbish is often
useful mixed with the soil, together with a little peat or leaf-mould.
ANEMONES
The tuberous-rooted Anemones, which alone come under the scope of this
work, form a section which embraces flowers of surpassing beauty.
Generally dwarf in stature, these Windflowers give us much variety of
colouring, from the pure white of A. nemorosa to the deep scarlet of A.
fulgens, with the blues, purples, and other tints of A. coronaria, and
the bright yellow of A. ranunculoides. Usually of easy cultivation,
they are among the choicest ornaments of our gardens.
A. apennina, the Apennine Windflower, is a delightful little plant,
growing about six inches high and having pretty blue flowers. There are
white and rose-coloured varieties. It likes a peaty soil, and prefers
shade. It is a charming plant to naturalise in the woods, where it
flowers in March and April.
A. baldensis, the Mount Baldo Windflower, is of erect but dwarf habit,
and grows about six inches high. It has little white flowers tinged
with blue or red, and does well on a rockery in half-shade in sand and
peat.
A. blanda, the Fair, or Greek Windflower, is one of the earliest of our
flowers in sunny gardens, and frequently opens soon after New Year's
Day. It needs a well-drained, warm position, but flowers better on a
stiffish soil.
There are several forms of this very beautiful Windflower. That called
cypriana has flowers which vary from white to lilac and pale blue, and
the variety taurica has blooms which embrace an even deeper blue among
its shades. The variety scythinica is one of the choicest. The exterior
of the flower is blue, while the inside is pure white. The seeds of A.
blanda should be sown as soon as ripe.
A. caroliniana, a North American Anemone, now referred to heterophylla,
grows about nine inches high, and has finely cut leaves and white or
purplish flowers in May. It likes a shady place and peaty soil.
A. coronaria is the well-known Poppy or Crown Anemone, which is so
wonderfully varied in its form and colouring. We have no more effective
flower than this in beds or lines in May. For cutting, its blooms are
most useful. This Anemone is best propagated from seed annually. It
likes a rich, light soil, and cow manure is the best to apply to it.
The "St Brigid" strain is a charming one, and the flowers it produces
are of great beauty. Tubers of A. coronaria of excellent quality can be
purchased at a very low price, and should be planted in a sunny
position about three inches deep in October or November. Seeds should
be sown in March or April, and should be mixed with dry soil or sand to
separate them. The double Crown Anemones are very beautiful, although
not so much grown as when they were favourite florists' flowers. They
are of almost every colour but yellow. A good white is named "The
Bride."
A. fischeriana, a Siberian plant, grows about six inches high, and has
white flowers. A. intermedia is a new Anemone with yellowish flowers,
and seems allied to nemorosa.
A. nemorosa, our native Windflower, gives us several lovely forms. The
double form, A. n. flore-pleno, is very beautiful, and there are a few
large-flowered forms, besides the pretty bracteata, which has ruff-like
green bracts round the flower. The variety rosea and its double form
have rosy flowers, and cærulea has pretty blue blooms, but is surpassed
by the charming robinsoniana of a brighter blue. Alleni is even larger
and better coloured than the last-named. All these like shade and peaty
soil.
A. palmata is a lovely little plant, which grows from six to nine
inches high, and has yellow flowers. There is a white variety, and a
very rare double one. It likes a moist, peaty soil.
A. ranunculoides is a pretty little native species of the nemorosa
type, but with smaller yellow flowers. The variety pallida, with pale
yellow blooms, is very pretty.
A. stellata, or hortensis, is a pretty southern Anemone which is not so
good in cold districts as A. coronaria, although pretty and varied in
its colouring. It likes a warm soil and sunny position. There are
pretty "Chrysanthemum-flowered" double varieties, and a double red,
different from fulgens fl. pl., which blooms pretty well, even where
the other forms do not succeed. All of these may be grown from seed or
by division of the tuber before planting.
A. fulgens is a popular Anemone, because of the beauty of its brilliant
scarlet flowers. It is, however, difficult to induce to flower after
the first year, and it ought to have a warm place, where the tubers
will get well ripened after they flower. There is a double form, and a
recent re-introduction, bicolor, has its blooms scarlet and white in
stripes. Aldboroensis and græca are good forms.