for July, 1920 



249 



THE PLANTAIN LILIES (Funkia) 



Tl I H I'unkias, or Plaintain Lilies are a small group 

 of Japanese plants belonging to the Lily order, and 

 in\-aluablc- in the main for the fine foliage efYects of 

 the established specimens. This is particularly true 

 of the bolder members of the race — Fortunci, Sic- 

 boldiana. ami subcordata {jirandiflora) — which, in the 

 course of years, will spread out into handsome speci- 



Thc iiiirdcii pool at Plaiitiuii Fields, the country estate of ]]'. R. Coc. at Oyster 

 Bay, L. I. The use of Darwin Breeder and Cottage Tulips planted in an har- 

 monious color scheme, gives much life to the garden during May. 



mens 3 feet to 4 feet across. At 

 such times they are noble indeed, 

 and worthy of the best positions 

 the gardener can give them. Some 

 of them — and those above-named 

 more particularly — are also highly 

 ornamental when in flower, though 

 they are chiefly valuable for their 

 bold and striking leafage. In this 

 latter respect they are tmique 

 among strictly deciduous herbace- 

 ous plants. Hardy in the extreme, 

 not presenting any cultural diffi- 

 culties, they rank high in the es- 

 timation of those who know them 

 best, and have grown them well. 

 Too Isold for inclusion in any bor- 

 der of herl)aceous plants, they 

 should be employed apart or in iso- 

 lated groups, where the great, 

 spreading tufts of well-marked, 

 gracefully recurving leaves may be 

 seen to advantage. On occasion, 

 and with full appreciation of their 

 ultimate leaf development, they 

 may be used as marginal subject.^ 

 to ])iil(l belts of Rhododendrons, 

 more particularly where these 

 shrubs are generously disposed in 

 bank-like outline. Xo idea of 



cramping should e.xist no jumliling together in thicket- 

 like density, calculated to mar or belittle the fine char- 

 acteristic leaf beauty of these plants. 



The most important item, once they are well planted, 

 is that they be left alone, since frequent disturbance 

 hinders progress, and is belittling in its ettects. Robust 

 by nature, it is hardly possible to treat the boldest of 

 these plants too generously, whether as to soil or soil 

 richness, and given a good depth of soil, specimens 3 

 feet high, without the flower-stems, 

 may result in a few years. Of 

 equal importance is root moisture, 

 ov that uniform degree of soil cool- 

 ness which is not a bad substitute. 

 Occasionally one sees these plants 

 beside lake or pond, and they are 

 certainly well suited to such asso- 

 ciation provided the soil has been 

 well prepared. The observant 

 planter will not lose sight of the 

 fact that the root system has a lat- 

 eral inclination, and will make pro- 

 vision for it accordingly. Apart 

 from the fine effects obtainable in 

 the ojjen garden, greater use should 

 be made of these Plaintain Lilies in 

 tubs for terrace gardening, giving 

 the plants generous treatment 

 throughout. Thus grown it will be 

 found that liquid manure and abun- 

 (Lint supplies of moisture are of the 

 ^V^j highest importance. The smaller- 

 leaved kinds — as e.g., F. iiiidiilata 

 :'(-:rici:;ata — are serviceable as small 

 pot plants for the greenhouse and 

 111 decoration generally. Autumn 

 is the best planting" season, though 

 the plants, inclining rather to per- 

 petual rooting, may be transplanted 

 over the whole of their dormant 

 period with ease. — Garden (Eng.) 



A vietc ol I lie pool from the mansion, siioicing the tea house in the baeii ground. 

 After the bulbs have Howcred they are removed and the areas are planted 

 :c///i annuals for summer and autumn effect. 



