HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 
25 
HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS 
Foxgloves and Sweet William. Two good old-fashioned flowers 
HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS, continued 
rockeries and stony banks or even dry walls are ideal 
places for quite a number of plants that will thrive and 
feel happy in such localities. Then there is the “wild 
garden’’ which has come to prominence in later years, 
and may be compared to a “back-to-nature” move- 
ment in horticulture. 
Probably the most popular, and also the easiest and 
most convenient to plant and take care of, is the old- 
fashioned herbaceous border. It is especially in such 
borders where perpetual color and bloom may be had, 
and where the most beautiful and tasteful combination 
plantings can be arranged. Examples for such effective 
combinations arc the following: Madonna Lilies and 
Larkspurs; Gypsophila and Lavender. Gypsophila, or 
Baby’s Breath, is one of those plants which may be 
used with almost any other self-color or composition to 
great advantage, either to bring out colors or to sub- 
due them. Coreopsis and Rudbeekias will combine 
splendidly with Gypsophila, as also will Anthcmis and 
Callirhoe. 
Where single color effects are desired they should be 
planted in groups of irregular shape, taking into con- 
sideration that the taller-growing varieties should be in 
the back of the border; those of medium height follow 
next, and low-growing varieties should run along the 
edge. For instance, tall-growing varieties for the back- 
ground may be Hollyhocks, Bocconia, Helianthus, Bol- 
tonia, Physostegia, Cassia, Marsh Mallows and others; 
medium-sized varieties, Phlox, Coreopsis, Larkspur, 
Rudbeckia, Gypsophila, Astilbe, Dielytra, Peonies, Iris, 
Daisies, Chrysanthemums, Anemones, etc. Low-growing 
plants for the edge, Alyssum saxatile, Iceland Poppies, 
Callirhoe involucrata, variegated Funkia, Campanula 
Carpatica , Arabis alpina, Iberis sempervirens, Hardy 
Pinks, Sweet William and others. 
Although most herbaceous plants prefer an open, 
sunny position, there are quite a number of varieties 
which may be grown just as well, and oftentimes to 
better advantage, in shady or half-shady places. Here 
are a few of them. Japanese Anemone, Columbine, 
Cardinal Flower, Foxglove, Bleeding Heart, Mertensia, 
Lily-of-the-Valley, Goldenrod, Aconite, Lemon Lily, 
Garden Heliotrope, Globe Flower, Yellow Day Lily, 
Saxifrage, Loosestrife and others. 
Those suited lor moist places include our most popular 
perennials. The full beauty of a pond or lake is not 
developed until the Irises in various shades and colors 
reflect their graceful and glorious bloom and foliage in 
the water. 
HIBISCUS Moscheutos (Marsh Mallow). Magnificent herbaceous 
perennial; splendid for wet grounds; enormous pink flowers. 5 to 6 feet. 
August and September. 
H. , New Hybrids. White, Pink and Crimson shades. 25 cts. 
IBERIS sempervirens (Candytuft). Spreading dwarf plants, with 
fine evergreen leaves; fragrant white flowers. April and May. 
IRIS Germanica (German Iris). One of our most popular hardy 
perennials. The newest varieties include many colors and shades that 
are marvelous. 
I. Germanica, Blue and White. Beautiful, old-fashioned sorts of 
easiest culture. May and June. 
I. Germanica Hybrids — 
Pallida Dalmatica. Large; clear lavender-blue. 
Florentina alba. White, tinged lavender. 
Cytheri. Dark lavender and rich blue. 
Mrs. Reuthe. 
Horace Darwin. 
Ossian. Straw-yellow and violet. 
Tarquerians. 
Queen of May. Bright rosy lilac. 
All varieties, 25 cts. each, $2 for 10 
I. Kaempferi (Japanese Iris). A superb strain of Japanese Iris, with 
strong, upright stems, 2 to 3 feet high. The immense, gorgeous flowers, 
of many shades of blue, white, maroon and violet, come into bloom in 
early July, lasting till August. Splendid for decorating. We have the 
latest original Japanese varieties. 
Under name and color, 30 cts. each, $2. 50 for 10. 
Mixed, best varieties. 20 cts. each, Si. 75 for 10. 
I. Sibirica (Siberian Iris). Bright lilac-blue. 2 to 3 feet. May and 
June. 
LATHYRUS latifolius (Everlasting or Perennial Pea). Rapid-grow- 
ing vine, with clusters of rosy red flowers. 8 to 12 feet. Ali summer. 
LAVANDULA vera (Sweet Lavender). Old, quaint and beautiful. 
Foliage and blue flowers are aromatic, i to < feet. July to September. 
LEONTOPODIUM alpinum (Edelweiss). The famous flower of the 
Alps and well known to many tourists who have traveled in the Alpine 
countries. Beautiful, velvety white stars and as hardy as the rocks 
on which it grows. 5 to 6 inches. June and July. 
LIATRIS (Blazing Star). Very choice and effective; long, rosy purple 
flower-spikes. 3 to 4K feet. July. 
LINUM perenne (Flax). Blue and White sorts. Pretty, feathery 
foliage. Profuse bloomers, throughout the summer. 1 to 1 ! T feet. 
LOBELIA cardinalis (Cardinal Flower). Most brilliant scarlet 
flower-spikes. 2 to 3 feet. July and August. 
LUPINUS polyphyllus (Lupine). Blue, White and Pink shades. 
Very handsome, pea-shaped flowers. One of our choicest perennials, 
but prefers porous and rather sandy soil. 2 to 3 feet. June and July. 
LYCHNIS Chalcedonica (Maltese Cross). Brilliant orange-scarlet 
flowers in dense heads, from June to September. 2 to 3 feet. 
LYTHRUM roseum superbum (Rosy Loosestrife). Very effective; 
long, graceful stems of rosy purple flowers. 2 to 3 feet. July to Sept. 
MERTENSIA Virginica (Bluebell). A useful and pretty native, with 
sky-blue flowers. 1 to \% feet. May and June. 
MONARDA didyma splendens (Bergamot). Clear scarlet flowers. 
A favorite plant with humming-birds. 2 to 3 feet. July and August. 
MYOSOTIS palustris (Forget-me-not). The everlasting Forget- 
me-not. Fine for wet places; in bloom nearly all summer; blue. 
CENOTHERA (Evening Primrose). Interesting class of plants, with 
showy flowers. Pink, White and Yellow sorts. 1 to 2 feet. All summer. 
PAPAVER nudicaule (Iceland Poppy). Cup-shaped flowers from 
June to October. Shades of white, yellow and red. 10 to 12 inches. 
P. orientate (Oriental Poppy). Probably the showiest of all perennials. 
Brilliantly colored, large flowers on long, erect stems. 2 to 3 feet. May 
and June. 
P. orientale, New Hybrids. Magnificent shades of Red, Pink, 
Salmon and Maroon. Named varieties, 25 cts. each, $2 for 10. 
