PLANTS FOR TROPICAL EFFECT 227 



One of the best plants for producing a tropical 

 effect on the lawn, or in the garden, is the Ricinus, or 

 Castor oil plant (Fig 56). It can be grown from seed. 

 It has immense palmate foliage, of a rich green, shaded 

 with red, with a metallic luster when looked at in the 

 sun. It grows to be eight or nine feet high, branching 

 freely. It is excellent for the center of a circular bed. 



Another plant with large and striking foliage is 

 Caladium esculcntnm. It often has leaves two feet or 

 more across and four in length when grown in very 

 rich soil, each leaf being produced on a stalk sent up 

 from the tuber. Fine for grouping about the Ricinus. 



The Canna is a noble plant, with large rich foliage 

 ranging through various shades of green and bronzy- 

 red. Some varieties are tall growers, while others are 

 quite dwarf. In addition to its fine foliage it bears 

 very brilliant flowers in autumn, somewhat resembling 

 the Gladiolus in shape and color. 



The Musa Ensete, or Banana Plant, has very large 

 leaves and is excellent for the center of a circular bed. 



If one has a greenhouse, there will be many plants 

 such as Palms, Pandanus or Screw Pine, Ficus and 

 others of a similar habit, which can be put out of doors 

 in summer with advantage to the plants. These can 

 be used in helping to produce tropical effects. 



The Striped Maize — a variegated variety of Corn 

 — can be used with excellent results if several stalks 

 are allowed to grow together. Its foliage is very much 

 like the old "Ribbon Grass," though of course on a 

 much larger scale. It should be planted in "hills," like 

 the common Corn, one stalk not being sufficient to 

 bring out the desired effect. As a plant to be used in 

 the center of a group it is very desirable. 



Fine effects are secured by the use of the Ribbon 

 Grass mentioned in the preceding paragraph, in con- 

 nection with Cannas and Coleus. Planted about a 



