476 



FUNKIA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



FUNKIA. 



is in the foliage. They are noble 

 plants, most useful for many positions 

 in the garden, while few lend such a 

 fine effect as F. Sieboldi when finely 

 developed. They are highly suitable 

 for grouping, and few plants thrive 

 better in open places in shrubberies 

 or near water. The bold, striking 

 foliage of some of the strongest plain- 

 leaved section renders them very 

 effective for edging large beds. They 

 are best seen in well-drained deep soil. 



F. LANCIFOLIA. A small species, with 

 tufts of lance-shaped leaves, narrowing 

 from the middle towards both ends. 

 There are some interesting varieties, chief 

 among which are the white-flowered 

 variety, a beautiful plant, spathulata, and 

 plantaginifolia, with long narrow leaves. 

 There are some varieties with leaves of 

 different variegation, all well worth grow- 

 ing, notably albo-marginata, with a narrow 

 wfcite line along the margin of the leaf ; 

 undulata variegata, in which the leaves 

 are undulated on the margin and varie- 



Plantain Lily {Funkia Sieboldi}. 



All are easily multiplied by division 

 in spring or autumn. The best are : 



F. FORTUNEI. This strong species has 

 smaller and more leathery leaves than 

 -F. Sieboldi. and they are of a much more 

 bluish or glaucous tint. The flowers are 

 pure white or pale mauve. 



F. GRANDIFLORA (Corfu Lily). Is 12 to 

 1 8 inches high, producing in August and 

 September numerous large, pure white, 

 sweet-scented flowers. It is best in groups, 

 beds, or borders, in a well-drained sandy 

 loam. About Paris it is grown as a flower 

 garden plant, but with us it does not 

 flower regularly unless in sunny spots and 

 warm, well-drained, and very sandy loam. 

 The young leaves are a favourite prey of 

 slugs and snails. Syn. F. subcordata. 



gated on the greater part of the surface ; 

 and univittata, with a broad white mid-rib 

 to the leaf. 



F. OVATA. Has large tufts of broad, 

 deep, shining green leaves. Flower-stems 

 12 or 1 8 inches high, terminating in a short 

 raceme of lilac-blue flowers, which appear 

 in late summer and autumn. One of the 

 strongest species, and when in flower is 

 very handsome. There is a variegated- 

 leaved form. 



F. SIEBOLDI. The finest for foliage. It 

 is 1 8 inches to 3 feet high, and has large 

 glaucous leaves, somewhat heart-shaped. 

 Admirable plants for picturesque groups, 

 very hardy, easy of increase by division, 

 thriving in any soil, but the foliage effect 

 is finer on deep, rich soil. 



