HARDY PLANTS FOR EDGINGS. 
P LANTS fit for use as edgings should be neat, com¬ 
pact and lasting—that is, they should continue green, 
dense and healthy from spring till fall—and perennials 
are more desirable than biennials or annuals. We have 
many such plants, and among them some are adapted for 
open, sunny places and others delight in partial shade. 
Far be it from me to bewilder your readers with a 
long list of plants suitable for edgings. Instead, I shall 
confine myself to the edging plants I now have here, 
and which are reliably hardy, easily obtained and easily 
raised. 
Grass Sod. —For flower-bed, border or walk, there is 
no edging prettier or more becoming than sod. But in 
the case of beds or borders an edging inside of the sod 
imparts a neat, finished appearance. 
Moss Pink (Phlox subulata )—Forms the densest kind 
of an evergreen sod or mat, which in April and May is 
hidden by purple-pink or snowy-white flowers. It loves 
an open, sunny place and pines or dies in shady quarters. 
Sea Thrift (Armeria vulgaris') —Forms dense tufts 
or solid lines, which in May and June are dotted over 
thickly with pale to deep pink flowers. It loves an open 
place, dislikes the shade, and will die if grosser plants 
spread over it. Divide and replant it in April, or raise it 
from seeds sown in spring or late summer. 
White Rock Cress (Arabis albida). —Very close but 
rather spreading. As an edging, needs lifting, dividing 
and replanting every third year. April into May, a snowy 
mass of fragrant flowers. Loves an open place. Propa¬ 
gate by division, cuttings or seeds. 
Russian Daisy (Chrysanthemum Tchihatchewi ).—A 
flat, very dense but wide-spreading little plant, with 
finely-divided leaves, and in May and June bears large 
white daisy-like flowers. Needs cutting to keep within 
bounds. Raise from seeds or increase by division. Does 
very well either in sunshine or shade. 
Globularia trichosantha. —A neat little plant, with 
button-heads of deep-blue flowers appearing in May and 
June. Rare, distinct, easily grown and a little beauty. 
Likes a moist, free soil and open situation, but will 
also thrive in partial shade. Raise from seeds or by 
division. 
Creeping Bugle ( Ajuga reptans ).—A close-growing, 
persistent little plant, that will grow anywhere. I use it 
extensively and provisionally; that is, as soon as I get up 
stock of another edging-plant, I remove a row of the 
bugle to make room for it. May be increased immensely 
by division. A. Genevensis. —A handsomer plant; al¬ 
ways proved hardy with me till this winter. The varie¬ 
gated A. alpina , a little gem, was also killed, but the 
common green form has graved the winter well. 
Veronica rupestris —In June is a sod of blue; a neat, 
dense little spreading plant, that roots along its branches 
as it moves along. Multiply by division. Grows any¬ 
where. V. repens is a dense and rapid spreading plant, 
only an Inch high. V. pectinata, a silvery, woolly little 
plant; also makes a neat edging. V. gentianoides like¬ 
wise makes a good edging. But one of the best of edgings 
is V. incana, with its silvery leaves and hardy growth. 
From seeds or division it is easily and rapidly increased. 
It also makes a neat-blooming plant. 
The Stonecrops {Seduni) —Are excellent for open, sunny 
places. They are very dense and spreading, and when in 
bloom, an unbroken mat of yellow, white, pink or purple. 
Unless in very dry ground, they are apt to become too 
thick, and rot in patches. They can be propagated by 
seeds or division, or you may shear over a mat of acre , 
sexangulare and others of that set, break 1 the stems into 
little pieces and scatter them on the ground. Most of 
them will take root and grow. 
Thyme , Golden-variegated (Thymus vulgaris ).—A 
compact, pretty little plant, yellow in spring, but becom¬ 
ing green in summer; barely evergreen ; much better 
when cut over as it begins to grow. By division and 
cuttings. Prefers an open place. 
Garden Pinks. —Most all kinds of close-growing cush¬ 
ion pinks, no matter of what species, Dianthus ccesius , 
D. plumarius or others, are good. I have a hundred 
yards of the double white plumarius. I lift, divide and 
relay it every year. It forms a neat, close row, and blos¬ 
soms abundantly. By cuttings and division. 
Lychnis Viscaria, Double-flowered — Is a handsome 
June-flowering plant and makes a pretty border, but when 
in bloom seems a little too rank for this purpose ; at other 
times it is appropriate enough. Division. An open 
place. 
Crested Iris (/. cristata) —-One of our smallest and 
prettiest American irises, spreads a little too much per¬ 
haps, and often after midsummer loses a good many 
leaves ; but where it does well it forms a pretty belt. Al¬ 
though indigenous along the Alleghanies it is uncommon 
in gardens. 
Grigors Columbine. —This is a small form of Aquile- 
gia glandulosa and that sold in the trade as the true 
Aquilegia glandidosa , also Aquilegia glandidosa vera 
and Aquilegia glandidosa jucunda ; but call it what 
you may it is not the true species glandulosa, which 
is not, so far as I know, in cultivation in America 
or Europe either. No matter about the name, the plant 
when in bloom is one of the loveliest gems of the garden 
and well fitted for a belt or border. Grow from seed and 
sow some every year. 
Other Plants. —The reason I have omitted the ever¬ 
green candytufts is because they often get considerably 
winter-killed ; when they escape, few plants make a bet¬ 
ter edging. Santolina gets cut to the ground most every 
winter. The larger of the houseleeks blossom and die, 
leaving the border rather ragged. Few plants are better 
than Silene maritima if we could only get enough of it. 
Spring Adonis would be very pretty, but see what the 
plants would cost. Aubrietias form dense mats and 
blossom abundantly, but they are not to be depended on. 
