Plants for Special Effect \ 03 



Bananas, to which family Musa religiosa and Musa ensete belong, 

 are always effective, but even for foliage they are limited to- 

 the Coast and warm Midlands. 



GRASSES, &c. Those most suitable for foliage relief in shrub- 

 beries, mixed borders, &c., are the following: 



Pampas Grass (Gynerium argenteum) With tall, gracefully 

 drooping leaves, growing to height of 4 feet or more. The 

 flower plumes rise above this, often to 8 or 9 feet. There 

 are two distinct colours in the plumes, one a silvery grey 

 and the other might be called a rosy-silver. 



Eulalias A very ornamental grass, growing 3 feet high. There 

 are three distinct types, all garden varieties of E. japonica. 

 Zebrina has leaves with numerous crossbars of cream or yel- 

 low. In " striata " the leaves are lined with white. " grac- 

 cilima'' is all green, but the leaves are very narrow and 

 droop most gracefully. The root-stock is hardy, and, although 

 the top growth may be frosted down in Winter, it readily 

 springs again in early Spring. Most beautiful when the 

 plants are in full flower. 



Arundo donax (Danubian Reed) Is most at home in moist 

 ground, but not necessarily confined to this position, as it is 

 often found in perfect health in ordinary garden soil. The 

 most ornamental types are A. donax variegata, the leaves 

 of which are striped cream and green, and A. donax con- 

 spicua, also variegated, but bearing a beautiful flower 

 panicle, almost as nice as Pampas Grabs. All Arundos should 

 be cut down as soon as they become unsightly in the Autumn. 

 10 feet. 



Cyperus alternifolius (Umbrella Grass) Makes splendid clumps. 



Alpinia nutens Has Canna-like foliage, and most delightful large 

 crimson and pink flower panicles, rising well above the 

 foliage. The individual flowers are almost like some of the 

 ground orchids in shape. 8 feet. The smaUer grasses are 

 more suited to the dwarf mixed borders than for shrubbery 

 work. 



Bocconia Is rather weedy, suckering freely, but the foliage is 

 very large and good, and the whole plant stately. There 

 are three or four types, the best known being B. cordata, B. 

 macrocarpa, and B. sanguinea. They only differ in the size 

 and colour of the flower plumes and seed vessels. 8 feet, 



Hedychium Some of the large varieties, such as H. coronarium, 

 H. gardnerianum, and H. flavum are useful in moist and 

 shady corners, and on the borders of ponds or streams. 

 Foliage is Canna-like. Flowers are white, cream and yellow 

 respectively, and scented. 6 feet. 



Papyrus antiquorum The ancient Egyptian paper plant is best 

 in shallow water, or in swampy ground. It grows to a height 

 of 8 feet and the globular seed heads are quite ornamental. 



