Tropical Garden Effects. 
Perhaps no feature in the home landscape strikes the observer more 
pleasantly than bold masses of rich, graceful and varied foliage ; indeed, a 
single plant of noble form or graceful outline will often excite more admira¬ 
tion and add more real beauty to the lawn or garden than the finest bed of 
small blooming plants. Since good taste decreed that the ribbon line and 
carpet bed should occupy a subordinate position, foliage plants have been 
used — and often abused — to produce what are called “ tropical effects. ” 
The great difficulty has been to procure suitable material for a reasonable 
outlay of money. Large tropical plants are costly, rendering their general 
use practically impossible and in a measure compelling the use of a few 
tender plants which can be supplied in large quantities at a comparatively 
low price, such as Ricinus, Cannas and Caladium esculentum, all of which 
are excellent plants for the purpose when associated with others of diverse 
character, but which used alone produce a monotonous effect — precisely 
the fault urged against bedding plants. 
This abuse of really good plants is specially noticeable in nearly all our 
parks and public grounds where huge “ pudding-like heaps ” of Cannas are 
planted in endless repetition — in most cases utterly destroying the effect 
intended to be made. If the want of variety in vigorous, tropical-like 
plants were real there might be some excuse for the lumpish and unsatis¬ 
factory result so often attained ; but the impression that there is a paucity 
of material is not true, for among the hardy herbaceous plants we have 
many majestic and massive-leaved plants, such as the Rheum, the Acanthus, the Giant Parsnip and the Gunneras, and the 
many tall, graceful, bamboo-like plants, as the great Arundo, the Eulalias, Erianthus and other fine things with which 
magnificent and permanent groupings can be made. 
One point that should be carefully avoided is that of planting large masses of one species in formal beds. Geometrical 
lines are ignored in the gardens of Nature’s planting, and there are no better gardens in which to study the art of making 
groups and combinations of tree and shrub, flower and leaf — groupings that will please the eye and satisfy the most exact¬ 
ing taste. What we want is more diversity in our gardens. Plant a dozen, or less, of fine Cannas irregularly, so that the 
character and outlines of each individual may be seen, and as a relief to them a fine tuft of Eulalia, a small group of 
Yuccas, an Acanthus or the beautiful fern-leaved Ferula, isolated on the grass near them, and a clump of three or four 
Arundos as a background, and you will create an artistic and pleasing group, without stiffness or formality. 
This idea — so beautifully illustrated on opposite page — possesses also other advantages. There is practically no limit 
to the number of fine hardy plants that may be used, or to the varied character of the picturesque groupings that can be 
made. Some of the hardy plants do not grow to large proportions the first season, therefore great care and judgment 
should be exercised in grouping and arranging them, as much time will be gained if they arc well planted at first ; indeed, 
success depends wholly on this. Vigorous growing plants are always gross feeders and should have deep and very rich soil. 
The limits of this article will not admit an extended description of the many fine plants suitable for tropical groups or 
for single specimens. We will, however, mention a few of the most important, with some suggestions as to their uses : 
Of the bamboo-like plants none are more hardy or useful than the Arundo donax. Nothing can be finer than this 
great reed when allowed to spread out into masses on the turf. The canes grow twelve to sixteen feet high and have a 
very distinct and striking aspect. It should be planted in deep rich soil and not afterward disturbed. A Donax versicolor 
is a variegated form of dwarfer growth, and is, perhaps, the finest variegated hardy plant in cultivation. In describing this 
elegant plant a well-known English authority says : “ This is as well suited for close association with the choicest bedding 
flowers as an Adiantum frond is with a bouquet." The Eulalias are graceful and elegant grasses, growing about six feet 
high, producing in autumn beautiful ostrich-like plumes. The leaves of Eulalia Japonica variegata are broadly margined 
with white. Eulalia zebrina is more erect in habit and is specially interesting for the peculiar form of its variegation, 
which is in yellow stripes or blotches across the leaf ; they are very hardy, and should be planted as single specimens, 
or in small groups. 
Ferula communis is a beautiful plant, growing six to eight feet high, with shining green, much-divided leaves, and 
when well established in good soil is equal to the most exquisite Fern. It is well adapted for isolating on the grass or 
planting near the margins of shrubbery. Yucca fdamentosa, though a well-known plant, is not used nearly so much as it 
deserves to be. The foliage is evergreen and margined with long white filaments, making it an attractive plant at any 
season. The flowers are produced in large branched panicles, four to five feet high, and are wonderfully effective. They 
should always be planted in groups. The Acanthus latifolius is a plant of noble proportions, having magnificent leaves 
