IRISH GARDENING 



103 



Spiraea palmata is an old plant in gardens and 

 deservedly a favourite. The handsome palmate 

 leaves make a fine setting to the brilliant red or 

 crimson flower panicles. It is a moistnre-loving 

 |)lant and is seldom satisfactory in a dry position. 

 There is a white variety, bnt it is inferior to the 

 type. 



Spiraea Ulmaria, the common " Meadow 

 Sweet," is, like the Dropwort, a native plant, 

 and also best known in its double form, at least 



some bog plant, growing quite 4 feet high and 

 bearing very ornamental " plumes '' of rosy- 

 violet flowers. The introduction of this plant 

 marked an era in the history of Astil])es in 

 gardens, since as a parent it has been responsible 

 for the many beautiful pink and rose-coloured 

 hybrids which are now a delightful feature of the 

 smnmer garden. 



Astilbe grandis, another Chinese plant, is 

 useful, also growing in much the same way as 



Spik.t:a Aruncus, Gunneiias and Ba^mijoos by tuk (»r-u Miu. Race at (ii.AsxEvix. 



in gardens. It is, of course, valuable in the bog 

 and similar places, though fre(|uently found in 

 borders. 



Astilbe. — ^This genus, so very like Spiraea in 

 general a])pearance, has an equal value in our 

 gardens. The various species are usually earlier 

 in flower than some of the 8])iraeas, and this year 

 they have suffered badly from destructive spring 

 frosts. Only a few of the Hower spikes promise to 

 develop, the ))ulk of them having been quite 

 killed. All the species, with one exception, 

 have divided leaves surmounted by branched 

 inflorescences. 



Astilbe Davidii is a notable plant introduced 

 some years ago from China. It makes a hand- 



A. Davidii, but producing white flowers, which 

 are not so striking as those of the ]irevious 

 s]iecies. 



Astilbe japonica is well known as a greenhouse 

 plant, being commonly used for forcing. It is 

 liable to be frosted when grown outside, though in 

 some districts it migbt be useful, being a 

 decidedly pretty species when well furnished 

 with ])ani(des of white flowers. 



Astilbe rivularis is a handsome Himalayan 

 species, fairly well known to gardeners, and a 

 fine ])lant for naturalising in dam]) i^ositions. 

 The flower ])anicles are very large white or 

 yellowish-white in general effect, while the am]ile 

 much-divided leaves are in themselves a pleasing 



