Читать книгу The Book of Bulbs - Arnott Samuel - Страница 5

Amaryllises – Anthericums – Antholyzas – Apios – Arisæmas – Arums – Asphodelines – Asphodeluses – Belamcanda – Bloomerias – Brodiæas – Bulbocodiums

Amaryllises

The only really hardy Amaryllis is A. Belladonna, the Belladonna Lily, which is a very effective plant with silvery rose flowers in late summer or early autumn. The leaves appear in spring, and as the flowers come after these have withered, the Belladonna Lily should have some carpeting plant above the bulbs. It is quite hardy if planted in a warm, sunny position, near a wall, and the tops of the bulbs at least six inches below the surface. It is safer to put some dry leaves or other light material over the bulbs in severe winters, removing this when the leaves come through. It also makes a good pot plant. The form major is even finer.

Anthericums

Some of the hardy plants cultivated in gardens as Anthericums are now included by botanists in other genera, but they will be more conveniently dealt with together under their popular names in gardens. Several of these are very ornamental plants, with handsome spikes of beautiful flowers. They grow well in common soil, not too dry, and are best planted in autumn or spring, at which times they may be divided when desired. Liliago, St Bernard's Lily, grows about one and a half foot high, and has pretty white flowers from May. There is a larger form, called major. A. Liliastrum, St Bruno's Lily, now Paradisea Liliastrum, and also named Czackia Liliastrum, is a still prettier plant, with larger fragrant flowers in the beginning of summer. It is taller than the foregoing. There is a fine variety called major. Ramosum (syn. graminifolium), is pretty also, though the flowers are smaller than those of A. Liliago. It flowers in June, and has white blooms on stems about two feet high, and narrow leaves. Hookeri, whose proper name is Bulbinella Hookeri, is a good plant for a moist border, and has nice yellow flowers in summer.

Antholyzas

Antholyzas are effective plants allied to the Gladiolus and Crocosma, and look very striking in the border. Several are hardy in the greater portion of the United Kingdom if planted about three inches deep and covered the first winter with about two inches of cocoa-nut fibre. One of the best is Antholyza paniculata, which has scarlet and yellow flowers and blooms in autumn. It has handsome leaves, and grows about three feet high, Æthiopica, Cunonia, and spicata are all effective, but paniculata seems the hardiest of all. There is a variety known as major. They can also be grown in pots for the conservatory.

Apios

The only plant of the genus in cultivation is A. tuberosa, the Ground Nut, a hardy North American plant of climbing habit, with sweet-scented purple flowers in August. It is hardy in a sunny, sheltered position, and should be planted three inches deep in rich soil in late autumn or spring.

Arisæmas

These singular, Arum-like plants grow in rather sandy soil, and prefer partial shade. The hardy species are ringens (syns. præcox and Sieboldi), which has green, white, and purple flowers in spring; and triphylla, which has green and brown spathes in June and July. They are increased by seeds or division, and are best planted either early in autumn or in spring.

Arums

The favourite flower which bears the name of Lily of the Nile, or Arum Lily, is not an Arum, and will be found spoken of as Richardia africana, but there are a few true Arums which may be grown for their singularity, if not for the beauties they reveal to those who examine them carefully. The hardy species like a rich, rather sandy soil, with plenty of moisture in it. They should not be planted out the first season until spring, but may afterwards be left in the open ground. Dracontium, the "Green Dragon"; Dracunculus, the "Common Dragon"; italicum; maculatum, our native "Lords and Ladies"; orientale; palæstinum, or sanctum (only hardy in mild places); proboscideum, whose true name is Arisarum proboscideum; and tenuifolium are all hardy.

Asphodelines

These fine hardy plants are closely allied to the Asphodeluses, and may be grown in deep sandy soil with plenty of water during the growing season. The leading species are: – brevicaulis, yellow and green, about one foot high; damascena, two feet high, yellow; liburnica, wo feet high, yellow; and lutea (syn. Asphodelus luteus), about four feet high, yellow; its double form is desirable. Taurica (syn. Asphodelus tauricus) has white flowers on stems about two feet high; and tenuior, now cretica (syn. Asphodelus tenuior), has yellow blooms on a stem about a foot high. The most imposing of all is imperialis, eight feet, with reddish white flowers.

Asphodeluses

Asphodels are useful and ornamental in borders and in wild gardens. When well-grown, plants of A. ramosus, the King's Spear, are truly handsome. They like a rich, sandy loam with some manure added, and should always have plenty of water when growing. The principal species are the following: – acaulis, pink, flowering in May, an Algerian species and a little tender; fistulosus, white, in summer, and one a half foot high; and ramosus, five feet high, in summer, with white blooms striped with brown. Albus is a form of the last.

Belamcanda punctata

This distinct, Iris-like plant is usually known as Pardanthus sinensis, and is too seldom met with in gardens. It is a little tender, but may be cultivated in a sheltered position in light soil. It grows about two feet high, and has orange flowers spotted with brown, and Iris-like leaves. I prefer to plant it in spring.

Bloomerias

Bloomerias are pretty, hardy, golden-yellow flowered plants, which are but little grown, but deserve a place in our gardens. The easiest to obtain is aurea, which grows about one foot high and has an umbel of pretty flowers, in July. The only other species, Clevelandii, closely resembles it, but has smaller flowers and more slender stems. They like a warm position in rich, sandy soil, and may be planted in early autumn about two inches deep.

Brodiæas

The Brodiæas have of late been deservedly coming to the front, and their use adds much to the charms of the garden in June and July, although growers must make up their minds to lose a few the first winter should the season be a damp one. Many are very beautiful, and well repay the little trouble they give. They vary much in height, some sending up tall scapes with many-flowered umbels, while others are quite dwarf. They like a light soil and a sunny position, and ought to be planted about two or three inches deep.

Bridgesii and laxa bear some resemblance to each other, and grow from one to two feet high. They have flowers of a purple-blue. Candida resembles these, but has paler bluish flowers. Capitata is another tall grower with blue flowers, the white variety, alba, making a good companion. Coccinea, whose proper name is Brevoortia Ida-Mai, is a fine plant with tall stems and scarlet, green-tipped flowers. Congesta is a tall grower with purple-blue flowers; and other tall species with dark flowers are multiflora and californica. A pretty section with yellow flowers is made up of Hendersoni, with its yellow flowers striped with purple, crocea, and ixioides and its varieties erecta and splendens. The latter species is sometimes known as Calliprora flava or lutea. Howelli is a fine species, with a tall stem and porcelain flowers; the variety lilacina is pleasing. Lactea and pedunculata are both good white species, and the late-blooming Orcutti has light blue flowers.

A charming set of dwarf forms will be found among grandiflora, Purdyi, rosea, and stellaris, with blue or purple flowers; volubilis is a curious twining species, which needs support when it makes growth. It grows about five feet high.

Bulbocodiums

The only Bulbocodium to be met with, except in a few collections, is ruthenicum, almost universally known as vernum, a pretty early spring flowering plant with rosy purple flowers, and much resembling a Crocus in bloom. It thrives in any soil, but should be protected from slugs. There is a variegated-leaved form. These should be planted about two inches deep.