This section is from the book "The Gardener's Monthly And Horticulturist V28", by Thomas Meehan. See also: Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long.
The rushy branched Russelia, R. juncea, is a twiggy, drooping, rush like plant with greenish branches which spring apparently from the base of the plant, and which are covered with a great profusion of trumpet-shaped scarlet flowers during the summer months. It belongs to the natural order Scrophulariaceae, and is a native of Mexico, from whence it was introduced in 1812. It is a plant of slender drooping habit, having small, smooth, opposite ovate leaves; and the small trumpet-shaped bright scarlet flowers, which are about an inch in length, are produced from the axilla of the leaves upon a more or less angular stalk so as to form a loose panicle at the ends of the branches.
The Russelia is not as extensively cultivated as its merits entitle it to be, for when well grown it is one of the finest vase or basket plants we have in cultivation; in fact, to grow it to perfection as well as to see it in all its natural grace and beauty, it should be grown in a pot or basket and suspended in a light sunny situation from the rafters of the greenhouse. So treated the branches will be enabled to droop and bloom without interruption.
The Russelia is a plant that can be easily grown, where it can be given a light sunny situation, and an average temperature of not less than 550, water being given whenever necessary. During the summer it should be given a higher temperature, and a more plentiful supply of water, both oveihead and at the roots. Frequent syringings are of great benefit to this plant, as they not only keep it clean but prevent the attacks of many insect pests to which it is unfortunately very subject.
This Russelia is a plant that requires an abundance of room for its roots, and should be grown in a compost of two-thirds well-decayed sods, one-third well-decayed manure, with a fair sprinkling of bone dust; and good drainage is also a most essential point.
Propagation is effected by cuttings of the half ripened wood placed in sand and given gentle bottom heat, and if the young plants are liberally treated and re-potted as often as necessary nice specimens will soon be obtained.
The generic name is given in honor of Dr. Alexander Russel, a celebrated English physician, and the specific alludes to the rush-like branches of the plant. Young plants can be procured at a moderate price of any of our principal florists.
Queens; N. Y.
 
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