34 The Wild Garden 



The large Hungarian Hepatica (angulosa) grows 

 freely among low shrubs and in half-shady spots, and 

 we all know how readily the old Hepatica grows on 

 garden soils of fair quality. There are many forms of 

 the common Hepatica. (Anemone Hepatica) grown in 

 gardens, and all the colours of the species should be 

 represented in every collection of spring flowers, 

 where the soil is favourable to these plants, but 

 Hepaticas are often evergreen plants, and being very 

 dwarf ask for more care in naturalizing them than is 

 needed for vigorous plants of the same order, some of 

 which will hold their own among the coarsest weeds. 



There are many of the Ranunculi, not natives of 

 Britain, that would grow as freely as our native kinds. 

 Many may remember the pretty button-like white 

 flowers of the Fair Maids of France (Ra nunculu s 

 aconitifolius fl. pL), in the old mixed border. This, 

 and the wild form from which it comes— a frequent 

 plant in alpine meadows — may also be enjoyed in our 

 wild garden. Quite distinct from all these, and of 

 charming beauty, is R. amplexicaulis, with flowers of 

 pure white, and simple leaves of a glaucous green and 

 graceful form ; a hardy and pretty plant on almost any 

 soil. This is one of the elegant exotic forms of a family 

 well represented in the golden type in our meadows, 

 and therefore valuable as giving us a distinct form. 



Of the Globe Flower s_iTr^lius), there are various 

 kinds apart from the native one, all rich in colour and 

 good in form. These are among the noblest wild-garden 



