THE USE OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS 303 



tenaciously as does the Boston ivy; but it makes a heavy 

 growth of foliage, and is frequently used as screening for 

 porches or in situations requiring a heavy mass of greenery. 



423. Wisteria is another climber that finds great favor in 

 all parts of the world. It is a member of the pea family, as 

 can readily be seen by the pea-shaped flowers. The flowers 

 are borne in clusters which in many cases are over a foot in 

 length and of strikingly beautiful appearance. The leaves 

 are compound and resemble those of many other members of 

 this family. The plant is a great favorite in Japan where it 

 is used very extensively and where its cultivation has been 

 brought to a high state of excellence. The Japanese give 

 especial attention to the pruning for flowers. They are so 

 successful in this respect that the flower clusters are sometimes 

 two or three feet in length. 



The rigid stems of the plant may be trained over pergolas 

 with especially fine effect ; and this is often done. Sometimes 

 the stems are pruned back and the plant assumes the habit of 

 a shrub. When this is the case, the wisteria presents a striking 

 appearance with its many clusters of purplish flowers. 1 



424. Shrubs. Such a variety of shrubs is available for 

 planting and the different situations in the landscape are so 

 exacting in their individual requirements that it is difficult 

 to suggest a few shrubs which would serve all purposes. 



425. Bridal wreath is one of the commonest of all shrubs 

 and is found in widely separated sections of the United States. 

 The technical name is Spircea Vanhouttei. It is a member of 

 the rose family and is grown primarily for its fine mass of 

 white blossoms which cover the plant in dense clusters in the 

 early spring. (Plate VIII.) The shrub is deciduous, but in 

 the warmer parts of the United States retains some of its 

 foliage during the winter. It is not high-growing, attaining 

 a maximum height of five to six feet. It makes an ex- 



1 There are other colors besides the purple, among them white, pink, and 

 blue. 



