PLANTS WORTH GROWING 193 
Stachys. — The Lamb's Ear, or Lamb's Wool 
plant, Stachys lanata, is chiefly useful for its downy 
white foliage. Of close-growdng habit and hardiest 
of constitutions, no finer subject is required in a hot, 
dry situation than this for the purpose of carpeting 
a bed of Liliums, Lychnis chalcedonica, Eremurus, 
or other tall-growing plants that like to raise their 
heads to the sunlight, but delight in a cool root-run. 
The spreading foliage of Stachys lanata shades the 
soil, keeps it cool, and thus checks evaporation of 
moisture, at the same time providing a pleasing 
setting for the more conspicuous flowers of the 
overgrowing subjects. 
There are a few other Stachys that may well find 
a place in the border. S. grandiflora has close spikes 
of violet flowers, the variety superba being richer 
in tint than the type. Both grow about a foot high, 
and bloom from May to July. S. libanotica is about 
double the height of grandiflora, its blossoms being 
pink and its leaves silvery white. S. coccinea is 
unfortunately not perfectly hardy, but its scarlet 
flowers are so bright and effective that the plant 
is worthy of Winter protection even to the extent 
of potting in Autumn for Winter storage in a frame 
and bedding out in Spring. 
Statice. — The beauty of the Statices or Sea Laven- 
ders, to give them their English name, is not of the 
brilliant or dazzling order. They are quite modest 
and unassuming, yet there is a subtle charm in their 
light, elegantly-divided panicles of small, soft- 
