April, 1906 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



137 



The formal growth of the plantain lilies 

 (Funkia) makes them desirable for edging a 

 basin of geometric design. They have dark 

 green foliage and grow from twelve to twenty 

 inches high. The flower spike of white or 

 blue flowers overtops the foliage by six to 

 nine inches. The broad-leaved forms, F. 

 subcordata, var. grandiflora; F. ovata, and 

 its variegated form, var. marginata, with 

 white margined leaves, and the narrow-leaved 

 F. lancifolia are equally desirable for this 

 purpose. 



THE WEALTH OF THE FLAG FAMILY 



The grass-leaved flag (Acorus gramineus) 

 is a semi-aquatic plant forming compact 

 grass-like tufts eight to twelve inches high. 

 It is specially suited for foreground planting 

 along swamps or lagoons. The common 

 blue flag (Iris versicolor), grows one and one 

 half to two feet high, and has violet-blue 

 flowers in July. For variegated foliage in a 

 swampy place, plant the variegated sweet 

 flag, Acorus calamus, var. variegatus, which 

 grows about two feet high. The leaves 

 have stripes of deep yellow when young, 

 which fades to a lighter color during the sum- 

 mer. 



The German irises come in many colors. 

 They have stiff, flat, light green leaves, which 

 reach one to one and a half feet. The flowers, 

 which come in May or June, are borne on 

 stems two to three feet high, and have a great 

 range of color, varying from pure white 

 through all the shades of mauve and blue to 

 dark purple. 



Quite different is the Siberian flag (Iris 

 Sibirica). It is distinct from all other irises 

 in having grass-like foliage, which grows in 

 compact tufts two or three feet high. The 

 Towers, which are borne in June, vary from 

 very light to deep blue. There is one vari- 

 ety having pure white flowers. 



The Spanish iris (/. Xiphium) is a bulbous 

 kind, growing one to two feet high. It 

 blooms in late June, and has flowers of pur- 

 ple, yellow, or bronze. 



One of the prettiest of all the plants pos- 

 sible for this situation is the ribbon grass 

 (Phalaris arundinacaea, var. variegala); 

 leaves one-halt inch or less wide, which are 

 striped rosy-white when young, changing to 

 yellow when old. 



THE PROBLEM OF THE FLOWER BEDS 



It is far more difficult to select proper edg- 

 ings for different groups of flowers than it 

 is to find a suitable fringe for a pool. The 

 delicate shades of rose or blue need careful 

 handling. If there exists any question as to 

 what to select, decide on white and green, and 

 you will never go astray. Scarlet and yellow 

 in certain shades harmonize well, and a light 

 yellow edging for a group of pale blue flowers 

 is charming. 



Such foliage plants as the coleus, which 

 may be had in endless,.shades, and the achy- 

 ranihes, with its highly colored leaves of va- 

 rious shades of 1 red and. green, are suitable 

 for gay flower beds. Both can be kept in 

 form by pinching. - 



The variegated -salvia (Salvia pratensis, 

 var. variegala) is very desirable. It is a peren- 



nial, growing about two feet high, with pale 

 blue flowers, and submits well to pinching 

 and trimming. 



For low edging the common sage (Salvia 

 officinalis, var. tricolor) is very attractive. 

 It has tri-colored leaves, gray-green, yellow- 

 ish white and pink, becoming rose or deep 

 red. 



The variegated sweet alyssum is very at- 

 tractive, but demands a dry situation. It 

 grows six inches high, has white flowers, and 

 white-edged leaves. 



Lavender cotton (Sanlolina chanmccypar- 

 issus, var. incana), is a small evergreen with 

 silver gray, finely cut leaves, and yellow flow- 

 ers; it grows one and one-half to two feet 

 high. Thyme, especially the variegated 

 form, is very useful for this purpose. Both 

 these plants appeal to the passer-by on 

 account of their spicy fragrance. 



The quaint little fire cracker plant (Cuphea 



ignea, known in the nurseries as C. platycen- 

 tra) is pretty for edging. Some of the cup- 

 heas are not unlike box in their appearance 

 when not in flower. They are rarelv seen in 

 our gardens, and need a greenhouse for pro- 

 pagation. The foliage is usually dark green 

 and they are from one to two feet high. 



The numerous variegated geraniums in 

 the market are not all thrifty in growth, and 

 therefore are not always desirable for edging. 

 Three of the old standbys are Madame 

 Salleroi, Cloth of Gold, and Mountain of 

 Snow. Geranium Madame Salleroi is the 

 best. It hardly ever flowers, and you have 

 therefore only to consider its white and green 

 variegated foliage. On most of the other 

 varieties the color of the flowers should not be 

 overlooked, or they are liable to cause con- 

 siderable disturbance. They attain a height 

 of about six inches. 



The double-flowered sweet alyssum is 



Pansies are the most showy of all dwarf plants used for edging. iThey are not ideal plants, however, as 1 

 their period of bloom Idoes not extend throughout the season. In public places, where immediate effect is 

 sought, and labor is available for replanting, pansies are excellent 



