I02 



IRISH GARDENING 



Herbaceous Spiraeas and 

 Astilbes. 



By J. W. Besant. 



There is still some confusion in the minds of 

 gardeners regarding the difference between 

 Spiraea and Astill)e. The similarity in habit and 

 necessary cultivation is so close that for practical 

 purposes the desig- 

 nation of Spiraea is 

 generally made to 

 suffice for all. 



The difference, 

 such as it is, is 

 mainly botanical 

 and lies in the pre- 

 sence of several 

 styles or stigmas in 

 Spiraea and of not 

 more than two in 

 Astilbe ; the former 

 genus being placed 

 by botanists in the 

 natural order Rosa- 

 ceae and the latter 

 in Saxifragae. 



Leaving the bo- 

 tanical aspect alone, 

 however, we find 

 many interesting 

 and beautiful plants 

 in each genus. 

 Practically all are 

 moisture lovers ; in 

 fact, a deep, rich, 

 moist soil is essential 

 to their fullest de- 

 velopment. Hence 

 in the bog garden, 

 in cool, rich borders 

 and by the sides and 

 margins of streams 

 and ponds are found 



ideal conditions for Astilbe 



planting the jPink flowers pr 



various species and varieties of each genus. 



Spiraea. — The flowering season of this genus 

 extends from July to October, thus its value in 

 the garden is considerable. Spirsea Aruncus, 

 commonly known as the Goat's Beard, is a 

 handsome waterside plant, but good also in the 

 border. It has large divided leaves and noble 

 spikes of creamy- white flowers Avhich last for 

 several weeks, the varietv called " ])luinosa " 

 IS considered the l^est for general purposes, ))ut 

 a very elegant and delightful variety not often 

 seen is " Kneiffii," a plant of m<Dre slender 



growiih, bearing very finely-cut leaves and grace- 

 ful flower panicles. 



Spiraea camtschatica, also called S. gigantea, 

 is the giant of the genus, growing S feet to 1) feet 

 in height under suitable conditions. The stems 

 are naturally stout and strong, and the large- 

 lobed leaves are very handsome, surmounted in 

 autumn by flat corymbs of ])ink flowers. The 

 original form has white flowers, but is not so 

 decorative as the pink variety. 



Spiraea astil- 

 boides, from Japan, 

 might be described 

 as a smaller edition 

 of the Goat's Beard, 

 being of a similar 

 habit of growth and 

 not unlike it in the 

 branched inflores- 

 cence. 



Spiraea digitata is 

 a dwarf moisture- 

 loving species grow- 

 ing about a foot 

 high. It is useful 

 and pretty in the 

 bog garden, and 

 bears corymbs of 

 rosy- red flowers. 



Spiraea Filijen- 

 dula, the " Drop- 

 wort," is a native 

 species, better 

 known in gardens 

 through its double 

 form. It is a good 

 border plant, form- 

 ing tufts of pinnate 

 leaves from among 

 which rise the flower 

 stems bearing pan- 

 icles of white flowers 

 in summer. 



Spiraea lobata is 

 a handsome North 

 Arendsii. American species, 



oduced in July. valuable ill any posi- 



tion which affords the necessary conditions 

 for its fullest development. It will reach 

 a height of from 6 feet to 8 feet near 

 water, and looks very handsome when flower- 

 ing freely, as it rarely fails to do. The 

 leaves are much cut and the flowers, borne in 

 a panicle at the ends of the shoots, are usually 

 pink. There are several varieties or forms of 

 this species in commerce usually sold as varieties 

 of S. venusta, an old name for S. lobata. 

 Some of the best are Blushing Bride, Fairy, 

 elegans, &c. 



