THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN. 
109 
mostly tall gawky tilings, flowering abundantly in the later 
antnmn months. For the back rows of sunny borders they 
are useful, and should, if possible, be planted away from 
trees, though they bear partial shade with patience. They 
are increased by division in spring. The best are A. amellus , 
2 feet high, pale blue ; A. elegans , 2 feet, blue or purple; 
A. ericoideSj 3 feet, white ; A. nova anglice , 4 feet, reddish 
purple ; A. turbinellus , 3 feet, purple blue. 
Astilbe.— Under this head we place the plant commonly 
known as Spiraea Japonica , but which should be described as 
Astilbe Japonica , for 
it is not a spiraea, 
but an alliance of 
the saxifrage. It is 
one of the loveliest 
inhabitants of our 
gardens, and very 
much grown for sale 
in the flower mar¬ 
kets in early spring. 
To grow this as a 
border plant select 
for it a damp shady 
spot and a rich deep 
soil. It will be found 
perfectly hardy, and 
far more likely to 
suffer from the heat 
of the sun in sum¬ 
mer than from frost 
in winter. Increase 
by division when the 
plant begins to grow 
freely in spring. If 
allowed to form large 
tufts, it shows its 
exquisitely beautiful 
fern-like leaves and 
feathery flowers to 
great advantage. astilbe japonica. 
Aubrietia. —This is sometimes called “ Purple Alyssum,’* 
but it might with more propriety be called “ Purple Arabia.” 
