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large clusters, (3) a long season of bloom, (4) ease of culture. 
that are best for general cultivation 
IGE. 
THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
APRIL, 1908 
THE BEST PERENNIALS OF MEDIUM HEIGHT 
Notre — The best perennials for the middle part of a border should have (1) a height of from two to five feet, (2) large flowers or 
It is a heart-breaking job to reduce a list of hundreds to the eighteen 
I have had to throw out many lovely flowers, e. g., all those*that demand partial shade, like the 
Christmas rose; those that have unexpected kinks in their cultivation, like Mertensia and pyrethrums; and perennials that are so 
short-lived that they are best raised from seeds every year, e. g., China asters, snapdragons and most columbines. 
Sweet William 
Oriental poppy 
Japan iris 
Japan anemone 
i) a TIME OF 
COMMON NAME | STANDARD NAME ae COLOR WHY BEST 
Cc 1mon columbine! Aguilegia vulgaris. ....| Early Viol. bl. | Unique shape, wide range of colors more permanent than 
May pk. wh. long-spurred kinds, less particular about shade and drainage. 
Bleeding heart -..-. | Dicentra spectabilis....' Darly Pink....! Unique heart-shaped flowers on long, gracefully arching sprays, 
| May tender color, long season of bloom and long lived. 
European peony...-.| Pconia ojjicinalis..-.-- Late Crimson,| Largest individual flowers of May. Flowers double, 4 in. 
May wh. pk. across, earlier than the Chinese peonies. 
Swect William. ..--- Dianthus barbatus... .-.| June. ..| Red,pink] Largest flower clusters of May. ‘Trusses 4 in. across, fragrant, 
white showy 5 weeks. One of the best variegated flowers. 
‘Chinese peony. .---- Peonia albiflora. .-.--- Early Crimson.| Largest perennial flowers of June, more varieties than any 
* June wh. pk. other hardy perennial. Extremely long-lived. 
lox lover eee eee Digitalis purpurea. ...| Early Purple, Unique shape of flower. Foxgloves and larkspurs are the 
June white two best flowers with spire-like clusters. 
‘Oriental larkspur..-.| Delphiniwm formosum.| Mid- Blue; eye] Larkspurs are the best blue perennials, having long spikes and 
June white two seasons of bloom. ‘This species probably most robust. 
Peach-leaved _bell-| Campanula persice-| Mid- Blue, Longest-lived bellflower. Highly characteristic leaves. Beau- 
flower. jolia June purple tiful blue bells 2 in. wide. (Not the largest bellflower). 
‘Oriental poppy. ... . Papaver orientale ...-.| Mid- Brick Largest red flower of the hardy garden. Six inches across. 
June red Easily propagated from pieces of root. 
Perennial Gaillardia.| Gazllardia qristata....| June- Red and] Will produce more flowers for cutting than any other hardy 
Noy, yellow perennial. Drought and frost resister. 
atpanwinise een Iris levigata....------ July. IL but) Largest flowers of any hardy perennial, often 9 in. across, 
scarlet. sometimes 12. Wide range of colors. 
Balloon flower. .---- Platycodon grandi-| July— Blue, Largest flower of the bellflower type that can be easily grown. 
florum Aug. pur., wh. Balloon-like buds. Flowers 3 in. across. 
Bee balm..........| Monarda didyma....-.| Aug. - Scarlet..| Will produce more red flowers at less cost than any other, 
but looks rcugh and hot in summer. 
Swamp rose mallow .| Hibiscus Moscheulos...| Aug. Pink. -.-| Largest pink hardy flower, except perhaps peony. Five in. 
across. Grows as well in border as in swamp. 
Late perennial phlox.| Phlox paniculata......| Aug.— All but bl.| Largest flower clusters of any hardy perennial. Wide range of 
Sept. |and yellow colors. Fragrant in evening. 
Japanese anemone.-| Anemone Japonica... -| Sept.. Rose, More and larger flowers in late September than any other! 
white perennial. Blooms until hard freeze. Flowers 2-3 in.across. 
Subsessile veronica..| Veronica longifolia, var| Aug.— Purple Longest spikes of any autumn flower; long season of bloom, 
SHAD SES SULTS eee ere eee Sept rich color. Spikes about a foot long. 
Hardy chrysanthe-| Chrysanthemum Indi-| Sept.— All but bl.| Most reliable flowers for October, a few blooming tillThanks- 
mums. cum and C, Sinense.. Nov and scar. 
giving. Best frost resister. 
Chrysanthemum Perennial phlox 
CULTURAL DIRECTIONS, ETC. 
If necessary to raise from seed, bag the best flowers to keep 
out insects. Commercial seed often impure. 
Often catalogued as Dielytra or Diclytra. Lovely also for 
home forcing for winter flowers. 
Not so refined as the late peonies; get shabby in fall. Only 
8 varieties still offered. Comes before rose bug. 
Best crop always second year from seed. Self sows; trans- 
plant these seedlings before Sept. 20. Cover very lightly. 
Best planted in Sept. because they will give some bloom next 
year. Spring-set plants should be large. 
See directions for Sweet William. Common old purple best 
for naturalizing. Most refined formis var. gloxinieflora. 
Cut off spikes as fast as they fade, or cut whole plant to ground 
and manure heavily. 
No special directions. To get large clumps give rich soil. 
Worth having in quantity. Fine for pots, too. 
Foliage dies in summer. Self sows; transplant these seedlings 
before Sept. 15, preferably Aug. Var. Parkmannz, blood red. 
Cut flowers as fast as they fade. Cover plants with litter 
after ground is frozen. 
Will give as good results when grown in good garden soil 
in the border as in wet soil. 
Stake early and don’t cut stems in fall. Give good drainage. 
Divide early in spring when growth starts. 
As easy to multiply as mint. Grand for. massing in woods 
or on streamsides. Easily overdone in garden. 
The ‘‘ Mallow Marvels” said to be hybrids with the tropical 
Chinese hibiscus, grow 8 ft. high. Flowers 8 in. across. 
To prevent mildew divide every third: year. Spray under 
sides of leaves with ammoniacal copper carbonate. 
Best in partial shade. Cover in winter. Generally dies 
if transplanted in fall. 
No special care. Responds wonderfully to deep, rich soil and 
sunny position. Very striking for distant mass effects. 
Always plant in spring—not fall. The larger the flower, 
the more winter covering. Use tobacco on aphids. 
Ill. 
THE BEST LOW-GROWING PERENNIALS 
Note — The best perennials for edging a border should be a foot or less high and come up to the other requirements demanded 
of the previous list. 
But it seems cruel to leave out Lenten roses, primroses and forget-me-nots merely because they need partial shade. 
Iceland poppy is ruled out because it is best treated as an annual. Dicentra eximia has exquisite foliage and blooms from spring to frost 
but its color is not good enough. 
violas. 
Blooms with snowdrops. 
Increases quickly. 
Easily multiplied. 
Daisy and pansy 
Flowers fragrant. 
Silvery foli- 
Flowers 1 in. across. 
Gray 
Blooms about 8 weeks. 
TIME OF : 
COMMON NAME STANDARD NAME perenne COLORS WHY BEST 
Japanese Adonis. ...| Adonis Amurensis (A.| March...| Yellow Earliest long-lived spring blooming perennial that can be 
ID ODUTZEd)\- ee ia easily grown in full sunshine. 
Crested dwarf iris. ..| Iris cristata. --......- April ....| Pale Earliest hardy iris that anyone can grow. Delicate sky-blue. 
blue Exquisite for edging. Flowers about 2 in. across. 
Dwart flag... .:-----|| ras pumila. ..------1- April. ..-| Purple Earliest large-flowered iris that anyone can grow. Flowers 
blue 3 to 4 in. across. Many colors. 
Golden tuft. ..--.-. Alyssum saxatile...... April— Yellow .| Most prolific small yellow flower of spring and blooms inter- 
May mittently all season. Self sows. 
Moss pink, ..-...-. Phlox subulata.. ..-.--}. April— Rose, li-| Cheapest and showiest carpeting plant for spring bloom in 
May lac, wh. rose and lilac. Rocks or soil, sun or shade. 
Engiish daisy.....-| Bellis perennis....---| April- Pink, Numerous pink buttons about x in. across. 
; ; é May white. best bedding plants April 15 to May rs. 
White rock cress..-.| Arabis albida .....-.. May White...| Cheapest and showiest spring-blooming white flowered plant 
; , for carpeting the ground. 
Geneva bugle... ..-| Ajuga Genevensis..... May Blue..--.] Cheapest and showiest spring-blooming blue-flowered plant 
; ; q June- for carpeting the ground. 
Tufted pansies or) Viola cornuta hybrids} _ July. Blue, yel.! Will give more flowers than pansies and for a longer season, 
A : June. white but flowers smaller. Numerous colors. 
Snow-in-summer. . -| Cerastinum tomentosum . White ..] Smothered with white flowers for about 8 weeks. 
| ; June- age attractive all season. 
Woolly yarrow...... Achillea tomentosa..--| _ July Yellow..| Showy flat clusters 1} in. across of yellow flowers. 
| _| June- foliage, elegantly cut. 
Canada anemone....| Anemone Canadensis Sept White. .| Large white flowers in great profusion over lone season. Attrac- 
(A, Pennsylvanica). .| June- tive wooly seed masses. 
Showiest of our native windflowers. 
CULTURAL DIRECTIONS, ETC. 
Plant before March rs, or else Sept. 1 to 15, unless you can 
get pot-grown plants. 
Plant about March 1s, or just when growth starts, so as not 
to miss a season’s bloom. 
The best blue variety, probably, is var. cerulea. The best 
yellow may be var. luteo-maculata. 
To prolong season of bloom do not allow seeds to form. Avoid 
heavy clay soil. 
Buy the named varieties that have refined colors. Don’t 
use the common wild form—too garish magenta. 
After spring blcoming, transplant to moist partially shaded 
spot and will bloom all summer. Divide only best plants. 
Often misspelled “alpina.” There is a species called alpina, 
but it has smaller flowers and is otherwise inferior. 
No specia! directions. Fine for dry places and for shady 
situations where grass will not grow. e 
After Julv bloom, cut back, manure heavily, water often and 
thev will make a fine show in September. _ 
Fine for edgings and naturalizing on rocks or in strong grass. 
Good drought resister. No care after planting. A 
No special directions. but the flower heads of all achilleas 
look shabby if allowed to go to seed. x 
Improves so much in cultivation, esnecially when used in 
large masses, that people do not recognize it. 
ae. 
