DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16633#0406
386
History of Garden Art
Among floral treasures unknown to earlier generations of rock gardeners is Celmisia
spectabilis, an evergreen of low growth which bears a profusion of large flowers, the ray-
florets white, the disc yellow, a plant which is not of the hardiest, and yet which thrives
on a sunny rockery in well-drained friable soil. Rock roses (cistuses), however, and sun
roses (helianthemums), are among the oldest and also the best. The cistuses are shrubs,
and what plants of this class are more beautiful? The large blossoms are fleeting, but
flower follows flower in such rapid succession and in such profusion that for several weeks
the plants are covered with bloom; and as, when suited by the conditions, they grow to a
large size, they become glorious objects. Although less vigorous, the sun roses spread
widely and form broad, low, dense masses smothered in beautiful flowers. It is not for
spacious rock-gardens alone that sun roses are suitable. Wherever there is a low wall or
sunny ledge to cover they come into their own.
The orchid family is represented by a good plant in Orchis foliosa, which forms hand-
some masses of oblong leaves and shortish spikes of purple flowers. It likes a cool sheltered
spot. The same may be said of many beautiful old and new primulas, such as japonica,
cortusoides, bulleyana, littoniana, pulverulenta, cockburniana, and sikkimensis; also the little
low-growing species rosea, which is never so happy as when growing in a cool, moist,
shady spot.
What for the rock-garden is a rarity indeed, being generally grown under glass, is an
evergreen with lance-shaped leaves and scarlet, lily-like, curiously toothed flowers of great
beauty, borne on stems about two feet long—a plant that likes a sandy mixture of peat
and loam and will only thrive outdoors, if at all, in a warm, sheltered spot; this is Tricus-
pidaria lanceolata, otherwise Crinodendron Hookeri. And yet another rarity for outdoors is
an exquisitely beautiful amaryllis-like plant called Habranthus fulgens, which few gardeners
dare grow in the open air. The secret of its success at Tongswood is that the bulbs are
protected by a mat of heaths.
Special plants like these give interest and distinction to the rock-garden, but the
unsophisticated amateur feels more at home with familiar things—the many beautiful
alpine pinks, low-creeping phloxes, saxifrages in almost multitudinous variety, and lovely
gentians like verna, bavarica, Andrewsii, freyniana, and the splendid but rather capricious
acaulis. Nor will he despise the true geraniums, which perhaps receive less attention
than they deserve because their name has been usurped by the zonal pelargonium—that
gorgeous, glittering king of the old-time flower-garden. In large rock-gardens and in
borders alike, true geraniums such as pratense, sanguineum, and Endressi are equally at
heme; while the smaller cinereum and argenteum are good alpines. The beginner finds it
helpful and encouraging to handle plants which are responsive, and he will certainly find
responsiveness in geraniums, just as he will in sun roses, in rock cresses (aubrietias and
arabises), in most of the bellflowers (campanulas), in alpine pinks (dianthus), in geums
(equally good for the border and the rockery), in alpine candytufts (Iberis gibraltarica,
sempervirens, garrexiana, etc.), in gromwells (lithospermums), in certain evening primroses
(GEnothera) suitable for the rock-garden, such as csespitosa and fruticosa, and in the charming
little blue Omphalodes verna, provided it is given a cool, moist, shady spot with other
shade-lovers, such as many anemones (blanda, hepatica, etc.), hardy cyclamens (Coum,
Europaeum, etc.), American cowslips (dodecatheons, especially integrifolium and Meadia),
the fumitories (Corydalis), some of which are responsive in shade almost to the extent of
History of Garden Art
Among floral treasures unknown to earlier generations of rock gardeners is Celmisia
spectabilis, an evergreen of low growth which bears a profusion of large flowers, the ray-
florets white, the disc yellow, a plant which is not of the hardiest, and yet which thrives
on a sunny rockery in well-drained friable soil. Rock roses (cistuses), however, and sun
roses (helianthemums), are among the oldest and also the best. The cistuses are shrubs,
and what plants of this class are more beautiful? The large blossoms are fleeting, but
flower follows flower in such rapid succession and in such profusion that for several weeks
the plants are covered with bloom; and as, when suited by the conditions, they grow to a
large size, they become glorious objects. Although less vigorous, the sun roses spread
widely and form broad, low, dense masses smothered in beautiful flowers. It is not for
spacious rock-gardens alone that sun roses are suitable. Wherever there is a low wall or
sunny ledge to cover they come into their own.
The orchid family is represented by a good plant in Orchis foliosa, which forms hand-
some masses of oblong leaves and shortish spikes of purple flowers. It likes a cool sheltered
spot. The same may be said of many beautiful old and new primulas, such as japonica,
cortusoides, bulleyana, littoniana, pulverulenta, cockburniana, and sikkimensis; also the little
low-growing species rosea, which is never so happy as when growing in a cool, moist,
shady spot.
What for the rock-garden is a rarity indeed, being generally grown under glass, is an
evergreen with lance-shaped leaves and scarlet, lily-like, curiously toothed flowers of great
beauty, borne on stems about two feet long—a plant that likes a sandy mixture of peat
and loam and will only thrive outdoors, if at all, in a warm, sheltered spot; this is Tricus-
pidaria lanceolata, otherwise Crinodendron Hookeri. And yet another rarity for outdoors is
an exquisitely beautiful amaryllis-like plant called Habranthus fulgens, which few gardeners
dare grow in the open air. The secret of its success at Tongswood is that the bulbs are
protected by a mat of heaths.
Special plants like these give interest and distinction to the rock-garden, but the
unsophisticated amateur feels more at home with familiar things—the many beautiful
alpine pinks, low-creeping phloxes, saxifrages in almost multitudinous variety, and lovely
gentians like verna, bavarica, Andrewsii, freyniana, and the splendid but rather capricious
acaulis. Nor will he despise the true geraniums, which perhaps receive less attention
than they deserve because their name has been usurped by the zonal pelargonium—that
gorgeous, glittering king of the old-time flower-garden. In large rock-gardens and in
borders alike, true geraniums such as pratense, sanguineum, and Endressi are equally at
heme; while the smaller cinereum and argenteum are good alpines. The beginner finds it
helpful and encouraging to handle plants which are responsive, and he will certainly find
responsiveness in geraniums, just as he will in sun roses, in rock cresses (aubrietias and
arabises), in most of the bellflowers (campanulas), in alpine pinks (dianthus), in geums
(equally good for the border and the rockery), in alpine candytufts (Iberis gibraltarica,
sempervirens, garrexiana, etc.), in gromwells (lithospermums), in certain evening primroses
(GEnothera) suitable for the rock-garden, such as csespitosa and fruticosa, and in the charming
little blue Omphalodes verna, provided it is given a cool, moist, shady spot with other
shade-lovers, such as many anemones (blanda, hepatica, etc.), hardy cyclamens (Coum,
Europaeum, etc.), American cowslips (dodecatheons, especially integrifolium and Meadia),
the fumitories (Corydalis), some of which are responsive in shade almost to the extent of