74 HARDY PERENNIALS 
part their stature may be measured in fractions 
of an inch, but an estabhshed plant will cover an 
area of two or three square feet, completely hiding 
the soil beneath elegant fern-like foliage. Over a 
dozen varieties are in cultivation, some having 
metallic and others glaucous or silky foliage against 
which red or purple * Burrs, ' as the seed-heads are 
termed, display themselves to good effect. The 
Acsenas are simple in their requirements, and are 
among the best of plants for the crevices of stone 
pathways and similar situations. 
Acanthus. — It is somewhat strange that one may 
visit many gardens where Hardy Perennials are 
quite a feature and find none of the species or 
varieties of Acanthus, for in regard to foliage alone, 
which is evergreen, they are plants of striking 
beauty, whilst their flower spikes are uncommonly 
curious and extremely handsome. Students of 
Grecian and Roman architecture will recall the fact 
that Acanthus leaves are largely represented in the 
finest of the ornamental work in world-famous 
buildings. We surely should find room in our 
gardens for a few plants of Acanthus mollis latifolius, 
if only for the sake of the fine Winter effect its 
foliage produces. The flowers bear resemblance to 
dragon-heads closely set on erect spikes. They are 
purple and white, whilst A. longifolius is of a more 
rosy tint. A. spinosus has strap-shaped leaves 
densely clothed with white spines, and A. Candela- 
brum is another desirable plant. A well-drained 
