BEDDING PLANTS. 



233 



SALVIA EPLENDE.NS. 



taller, two to three feet high, and groMdng much larger 

 leaves. 



Salvia splendens is also an effective bedding-plant, 

 growing two or three feet high. Its 

 foliage is attractive and thick-growing, 

 and the flowers are specially attrac- 

 tive, because they glow with a rich 

 red late in autumn. 



Vinca rosea may be also used with 

 excellent effect in this shrub type of 

 bedding. Its rich green glossy leaves 

 are its chief attraction. The last and most important feat- 

 ure of foliage-bedding is the employment of the tree type of 

 plants. First and most important of these are the canna 

 effects. The well known Canna Indica has many varieties, 

 but their general appearance exhibits on the lawn great 

 solid leaves extending from the ground six or eight feet 

 high. Their tints of green run in some kinds into rich 

 red and purple hues. One of the best 

 of these is Canna JEhma/nni of compara- 

 tively recent introduction. The foliage 

 is not as large as that of some other 

 cannas, but it is solid and massive and 

 banana-like, and the crimson-scarlet flow- 

 ers hang in heavy clusters from the 

 top of the plant, and continue in bloom 

 throughout the season. The value of 

 the canna in bedding lies chiefly in its 

 leaves. Masses of these leaves seen even from some dis- 

 tance have a specially tropical and j)l«asing effect, and 



CANNA INDICA. 



