Evening star., 1947-07-13
Wealthy Cousins Of the Pinks
Some Suggestions on Perennial Borders,
Rock Gardens and Cover Problems
By w. H. Younemon

| Rock Gardens and
By W. Il.
Plant families, as the botanists
have arranged them, are complex
groups which bewilder the average
gardener. No one questions that the
various species making up a plant
family have certain botanical char
acteristics in common, although they
are beyond the ken OF the dirt
dobbers." However, our curiosity
leads to interesting facts and fan
cies, such as which genera go to-
gether to make up the Pink family.
The Pink family (Caryophylla-
ceae), as botanical plant families
60, Is not very large. It is not as
large as the Rose family nor as i'm
portant economically as the Pea
family Geguminosae), but the cul-
ture Of carnations by the florists
and the use In the home gardens
since Colonial times Of Glove, grass
and Chinese pinks and the Sweet
williams, all members Of the Dian
thus genera, gives us close tie
to the Pink family.
The Dianthus genera need no spe-
cial consideration for we are examin-
ing the other members Of the Pink
family, their cousins. The Babys-
breath (Gypsophila) is, without
doubt, the best known member. The
Cerastium genera are widely grown,
while the Saponaria and Silene
genera are well known to rock gar
deners. Among the lesser known
cousins are the Saxifrage tunic-
flower CTunica saxifraga). Starwort
(Stellaria), Whitlowgrass CParony-
chia), Herniary (Herniaria), Sand
wort (ArenariaD, Pearlwort (Sa-
gina) and Spurry (Spergula).
New Double Forms.
This list begins to indicate that
the cousins are more important to
local gardeners than we at first
suspected. Let US examine them a
bit further. The Babysbreath (Gyp-
sophila) gets its name from the airy
dainty g. paniculata, the hardy
perennial that is so widely used COM
mercially and by home gardeners
as q cut flower. The newer double
forms, Bristol Fairy and Ehrlei,
have larger and whittier flowers.
Then there is G. oldhamiana and G.
pacifica, with pink flowers late in
the season. They are both tall
growers and in combination with
the Babysbreath help to prolong the
season. However, G. paciflca does
not tolerate hot summer weather
too well. The pink Towering double
varieties are Bodger and Rosy Veil.
These tall growing cousins are
not the only members Of the Gyp-
sophia genera that merit our at
tention for there are several low
growing species of interest to the
rock gardener and to the gardener
who needs q low-growing ground
cover. Ct. repens and its pink form,
q. repens rosea, and the Mouse-ear
Gypsophila &C. cerastioides) are
worthy of culture either as an edg-
ing or in the rock garden.
The Gypsophilas like open dry
places and a fairly sweet soil that
is not too richA In this area we are
likely to have soil that Is too moist,
especially for the creepers. They
may be propagated by seeds, by cut
tings and the named varieties by
grating.
Plant Them Near Poppies.
The Gypsophilas are useful for
cutting and their airy graceful
growth makes them most useful In
the garden. Plant them near the
Oriental peoples and let their
branches cover the void when the
poppies die down in July. ..
The Lychnis, or Campions, as they
are frequently called, include many
species common to the old-fash-
ioned garden. However, their out
standing merits are their ability to
Withstand drought and their flower
ing in mid to late summer. The
Maltese Cross is the tallest grower
3 to 5 feet-with vermill1on scarlet
flowers and foliage that resembles
that Of the Sweet William. The
Mullein- pink, q lower-growing spe-
cies-2 to ~ feet-has silver gray
foliage and cerise crimson flowers
The German Catchfly, a foot high,
has magenta colored flowers and
evergreen foliage. The Ragged
robin or Cuckoofiower Il. fioscuculD I,
also foot high, has narrow grayish
grasslike foliage, with dainty rose
or soft pink flowers. The dwarf
members Of the Lychnis genera, the
Artic campion Il. alpina), flowers
in the spring, bearing pink clusters
on 6-inch stems.
Unlike the Gypsophilas, the Lych-
mis- want a fairly rich sandy soil,
although they are tolerant and are
frequently to be seen growing in our
heavier clays. Propagation is by
seed or by division. Give them
full sun.
The tunicfower (tunica saxi-
fraga) is q perennial Of small stat
ure adapted to the rock garden or
edging. Its habit Of growth and
appearance resembles that Of the
maiden pink, although the flowers
come in white, lavender and rose.
Plant Spreads Rapidly.
Cerastium or mouse -eared chick
week, as it is sometimes called, is a
popular plant in the rock garden,
although 1t can be too spreading for
comfort to less robust plants. The
most common member is snow-in-
the-summer &c. tomentosum), whose
white, star-shaped flowers IN May
PLANT PEONIES
I Anw . time. Special o6sr BY nationally
sNVvv known Worid's Fair landscape gard.