386 



HORTICULTURE 



September 12, 1914 



The Silvery Lavender Phlox 



Tlie aecompanjing photograph 

 shows an interesting little phlox 

 which was recently discovered among 

 the sand dunes along Lake Michigan, 

 and has since found its way into 

 cultivation. It appears to be a 

 distinct species and has been named 

 Phlox argillacea. Until a few years 

 ago, it was regarded as an albino 

 form of some of the early phloxes. 

 In general appearance it resembles 

 Phlox pilosa but it is later, taller, 

 more floriferous and the flowers are 

 of a different color. 



As it grows in the wild the flow- 

 ers are of medium size but further 

 cultivation may be expected to 

 change this. In color they are pale 

 lavender or white and when the 

 plant is in bloom the whole upper 

 parts are a mass of flowers. In the 

 vicinity of Chicago the first flowers 

 open a week before Decoration Day and the plant con- 

 tinues in full bloom for six weeks or more. Even after 

 that there are some flowers to be found until frost. 



The fact that the plant grows naturally in dry and 

 sterile soil shows it to be practically ironclad, while the 

 color of the flowers and its time of blooming, bridging as 



rHLU.V AKGILI^CEA 



it does the gap between spring and late summer species, 

 makes it a very desirable addition to our list of perennial 

 plants. 



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Joliet, III. 



Eleagnus longipes 



It is to be deplored that this handsome shrub is not 

 more commonly found in the plantings of the landscape 

 architects. For foliage effect or grown as a bright- 

 fruited shrub it is among the best we have. The 

 oleaster, as it is commonly called, is a member of the 

 family Eleagnaceae, which derives its name from the 

 Greek, meaning Olive. Some of the members of this 

 family are called the Tea-olive. 



Eleagnus longipes is a shrub attaining six feet in 

 height and of rather broad and spreading habit. The 

 young stems are of a reddish brown and the leaves are 

 covered on the upper surface with stellate hairs, which 

 in spring render a silvery tinge to the foliage which is 

 not at all displeasing. The under ^^=^^=^= 

 surface of the leaves is of a lighter 

 green than the upper surface and is 

 covered with scattered groups of 

 brown hairs which give it an almost 

 scurfy appearance. The flowers are 

 axilary and almost solitary, yellow- 

 ish-white, with tubes as long as the 

 Imib and are fragrant. 



The fruits appear immediately 

 after the flowers, in June and July, 

 and are pendulous on slender stems 

 much longer than the fruits them- 

 selves, which are oblong and about 

 f inch long. When young these 

 fruits are covered with brown scales 

 so that they also appear a bit scurfy. 

 The flavor is slightly acid, but is 

 found by some to be very agreeable. 

 Tlie birds also are fond of it. These 

 fruits hang on the plant until late 

 summer and if not picked off, fall 

 jiaturally at that time. 



The oleaster makes a very desirable shrub for general 

 planting or for specimen work on the lawn, and can be 

 grown in almost any well drained soil, even limestone. 

 It prefers a sunny situation. There are several methods 

 of propagation, the first of which is by seeds, which take 

 two seasons to germinate and should be stratified the 

 second spring and sown again. The second method, and 

 the best and easiest, is by cuttings of the mature or half- 

 ripened wood. Layering and root cuttings are some- 

 times used, but are not as quick or satisfactory. 



xyT^c/^y^ ^ 



SUBTROPICAL BED. 



At Entrance to Perennial Gardens. Lincoln Parli, Cliicago. 



This elegant group, consisting of Ricinus, Alocasias. Caladiums, Cyperus, 

 Cannas, etc.. bordered with Funkias, was planted in the bed of an abandoned 

 fountain and made a very fine effect. 



