The Everlasting Peas

The Everlasting Peas belong to the same genus (Lathyrus) as the Sweet Peas, and have flowers of similar form, but scentless. They are hardy perennials, and, although scarcely suitable for walls, will thrive on trellises, pergolas, and arbours. The Common, Latifolius, and its white variety, Albus, are the best known; but there are several others, notably Delicatus, blush-coloured, and Coccineus, crimson, which may be grown by those who like to specialise in this flower.

The Magnolias

The Magnolias are perhaps used more largely for borders than for walls, but Conspicua is a good wall plant, and its white flowers are fragrant.

The Victorian Snow-Bush, Olearia Stellulata Or Gunniana

The Victorian Snow-Bush, Olearia Stellulata Or Gunniana, is a charming shrub for a low wall. It is an evergreen, and flowers freely in summer.

Both the Passion-flower (Passiflora caerulea) and the white Constance Elliott are beautiful and interesting wall plants, but they cannot be relied upon if the aspect is cold, and ought to have warm, sheltered places.

The Siik-Vine, Periploca Graeca

The Siik-Vine, Periploca Graeca, is a singular and interesting flower of brownish red. It is hardly worthy of selection as a prominent wall shrub, but may form one of a collection of plants on a pergola.

Polygonum Baldschuanicum

Polygonum Baldschuanicum is hampered by a terribly formidable name, but British amateurs must try and master it, for it is a magnificent plant, hardy, climbing very rapidly, and bearing a profusion of drooping white or pink sprays of blossom in summer and autumn. Those who see it in full beauty on a tall framework of poles in September will not readily forget it.

Roses have been dealt with already.

The Flame Nasturtium (Tropoeolum Speciosum)

The Flame Nasturtium (Tropoeolum Speciosum) has many admirers, many of whom gaze at it despondently, as a plant which has baffled them. It is glorious in August and September where it thrives, being a sheet of vermilion. A hot, dry site is fatal to it, and it is best planted in a place where the roots are in the shade.

Veitch's Self-Clinging Virginian Creeper

Veitch's Self-Clinging Virginian Creeper, Ampelopsis Veitchi (or Vitis inconstans of botanists), is naturally a great favourite, as it grows rapidly, covers a wall with greenery in summer, and turns to a bright red in autumn.

Wistaria (Or Wisteria, The Common Spelling) Sinensis

Wistaria (Or Wisteria, The Common Spelling) Sinensis is an old favourite. It is a slow grower, but its lilac racemes are very beautiful when the plant has got strong enough to bear freely. There is a giant-flowered Japanese species called Multijuga, which can now be bought from florists.

Climbers and shrubs on walls which now either fail completely or drag out a miserable existence, owe their unsatisfactory condition to want of thoroughness on the part of the planter, in most cases. He does not prepare the soil well enough, nor plant early enough. If the soil is poor (and soil under walls generally is), some of it ought to be removed to a couple of feet of depth and width, and decayed turves and manure substituted. Moreover, good soakings of water should be given in dry weather.