34 Hardy Plants for 



place for it ? Now, it is one of those things that will not disgrace any 

 position, and will prove equally at home in the centre of the mixed 

 border, projected a little from the edge of a choice shubbery in the 

 grass, or in the flower garden ; nobody need fear its displaying any- 

 thing like the seediness which such things as the Heracleums do 

 at the end of summer. In fact, there are few things turned 

 out of the houses that will furnish a more satisfactory effect. 

 I should not like to advise its being planted in the centre of a 

 flower bed, or in any other position where removal would be neces- 

 sary j but in case it were determined to plant permanent groups of 

 fine-leaved hardy plants, then indeed it could be used with great 

 success. Supposing we have an irregular kind of flower garden or 

 pleasure ground to deal with (a common case everywhere), one of 

 the best things to do with it is to plant it in the grass, at some little 

 distance from the clumps, and near perhaps a few other things of 

 like character. It is better than any kind of Acanthus hitherto 

 commonly cultivated in botanic gardens, though one or two of these 

 are fine. Give it deep good soil, and do not begrudge it this atten- 

 tion, because, unlike tender plants, it will not trouble you again for 

 a long time. How about a ring of it around a strong clump of 

 Tritomas (grandis in the middle, and glaucescens surrounding it?) 

 the very dark polished green Acanthus being in its turn surrounded 

 by that fine autumn-flowering Sedum spectabile ? There would be 

 little difficulty in suggesting a dozen equally suitable uses for 

 this fine plant. It is to be had now in some London nurseries, 

 and in nearly every Paris one. The plant best known by this name 

 as also known under the name of A. lusitanicus. Both are garden 

 names, the first the best. It came into cultivation in the neigh- 

 bournood of Paris about six or eight years ago, and has since spread 

 about a good deal. Nobody seems to know from whence it came. 

 Probably it is a variety of Acanthus mcllis a striking one, of course. 

 The plant itself varies a good deal; I have seen specimens of it 

 about a foot high, with leaves comparatively small and stiff and 

 rigid, as if cast in a mould, by the side of others of thrice the 

 development, and of the usual texture. 



