2o THE BOOK OF THE WILD GARDEN 



indiscriminately. A pretty variety of late introduction 



is Elizabeth, pale salmon-pink in colour. 



Dicentra. — Formerly known as Dielytra. D. spectabilis, 

 the Lyre Flower, is an old favourite in gardens, and 

 under good cultivation reaches a height of three feet 

 with a spread of five feet. Its graceful, drooping, 

 rosy-flowered racemes are exquisite in colour and 

 contour. D. eximia is a plant of lesser growth, but 

 well worthy of naturalising. 



Digitalis. — Foxglove. The white variety is unequalled 

 for wild garden planting, vistas of snowy spires thrown 

 into strong relief by a deep green background forming 

 delightful pictures. A little clearing of the ground 

 before seed is sown is all that is necessary, as the plants 

 will hold their own against the strongest competition 

 and renew themselves from self-sown seed. 



Doronicum. — D. plantagineum excelsum Harpur Crewe 

 is the finest of the family, throwing up its great yellow 

 stars to a height of five feet. It is valuable owing to its 

 commencing to expand its blooms earlier in the spring 

 than most showy perennials. It thrives in open spots in 

 woods and such-like situations. 



Echinops. — Globe Thistle. Stately plants of distinct 

 habit growing from three feet to seven feet in height, 

 having spiny leaves, and bearing globular flower-heads 

 of a steel-blue colour that give them an unique appear- 

 ance. E. ruthenicus, E. Ritro and E. exaltata are good 

 species. 



Elymus. — Lyme Grass. E. arenarius, 2l British plant, 

 is effective by reason of its long, narrow, drooping leaves 

 and may be used for wood margins or sandy banks. 



Eremurus. — If given good soil and a sheltered site there 

 is no reason why these grand plants should not succeed 

 in the wild garden as well as many of the Lilies. Sur- 

 rounding herbage, which could be cleared away during 

 the summer, would protect the young growth from the 



