For FehriKiry, 1922 



41 



Funkia — Plantain Lily 



RICHARD ROTHE 



FUNKIA — syns. Hosta, Sausurea — the plantain lily is 

 a hardy herbaceous genus of the large order 

 Liliacccc. Most of the garden species of funkias are 

 well known and easily obtainable, but as to their wide 

 scope for ettoctive employment many of us have only a 

 vague idea. Planted upon a border, sunny throughout 

 the whole day, occupied by strikingly free flowering- 

 perennials and annuals, they are apt to prove disappoint- 

 ing. Their spikes of white and lavender bell-shaped blos- 

 soms, under the given condition, do not conspicuously 

 augment the vividness of color arrays and, throughout 

 the Middle Atlantic and Southern States, the foliage does 

 not always endure the full force of the mid-Summer 

 sun without injury. However, it is usually the reverse in 

 semi-shady situations or in positions with full sunlight 

 limited to morning and evening hours. Then, in well- 

 enriched and deeply dug soil ])lantain lilies are sure to 

 develop a captivating ornamentality in perfect foliage 

 and, during mid-Summer, a very acceptable display of 





funkia laiiccolata albo viargiuala 



flowers. Funkias are one of the few dependable items for 

 soivirig the always more or less difficult problem of estab- 

 lishing a permanei!t growth on narrow borders running 

 along northern housefronts. If not neglected in watering, 

 the laiiccolata and orata types even hold out well and look 

 presentable under awnings. When arranging shore- 

 plantations of lake and pond, or, when engaged in 

 iDrookline gardening we find especially the large robust 

 growing species simply indispensable. Growing in the 

 full sunlight near the water line the foliage rarely ever 

 suffers by reason of excessive heat. 



.Fnnkia subcordata granditlora. a species from Japan, 

 with light green, heart-shaped large foliage and, during 

 mid-Summer, glistening white fragrant flowers, is a uni- 

 versal garden favorite of long standing. The chief at- 

 tractions of Funkia Fortune! are the steel-blue medium 

 sized foliage and light lilac racemes on stems not extend- 

 ing much over the leaves. Funkia laiiccolata, with long- 

 narrow green foliage, is the freest flowering plantain lily, 

 its numerous lavender blue bells being borne on long 

 graceful stems well above the plant. Funkia orata, syn. 

 ca^rulca, distinguished by broad green foliage and pale 

 lilac spikes is one of the best for placing near the water- 

 line. Strikingly beautiful are the variegated forms of 



ozvta — note\\orthy ozvta albomarginata and aurca varic- 

 i^ata. The latter is also found listed under the name Japan- 

 ica aurca varicgata. Unquestionably the most stately of 

 all is the true Funkia Sicboldiaiia. producing enormous 



Funkia subconlata graiidiliora 



Steel-blue leaves of tropical luxurience. For perfect de- 

 ^•eiopn1ent this species needs a rich sandy loam and an 

 open moderately moist situation. Funkia minor alba is a 

 wavy green leaved, smaller growing type, producing long- 

 stemmed white flowers, which, like those of lanccolata, 

 are useful for cutting. Of a number of handsomely varie- 

 gated forms I mention Funkia robnsta clcgans varicgata, 

 lanccolata albo marginata, viridis "Thomas Hogg" and 

 the well known undulata media picta frequently used for 

 edging purposes. 



funkia uvata, syn. cocndca 



Funkias are best propagated by division early in Spring. 

 Tliev may be also raised from seeds sown in cold frames. 

 Seedlings of variegated forms come true to only a small 

 percentage. It requires from two to three years" culti- 

 vation of seedlings before obtaining- stock of trade size. 

 Winter protection is required only in northern States. 



