E very now and again — once in a decade 
or once in 25 years — a new plant comes 
along that promises a revolution for the 
homegrounds. Such a plant is Bulgarian 
Ivy, a ‘“‘find’”’ from the fastness of the 
Balkan mountains. Among plantsmen, the 
finding, testing and introduction of a key 
garden plant can be considered a crowning 
achievement for a lifetime of labor. Credit 
for this horticultural triumph goes to Dr. 
Edgar Anderson, Director of the Missouri 
Botanical Garden at St. Louis. It was he 
who discovered Bulgarian Ivy (also known 
as “MGB Bulgaria” after Missouri Botan- 
ical Garden) under a beech forest near the 
Rila Monastery in the Bulgar mountains. 
Dr. Anderson brought this Ivy to St. 
Louis in 1934. Almost at once it proved 
itself for creating a “smooth green carpet”’ 
in shady locations where grass would not 
grow as well as in semi-shady areas where 
grass growth was weak. And subsequent 
plantings have proved it will tolerate in full 
sun. [ts performance as a vine on stone walls, 
buildings and tree trunks was no less satis- 
fying. 
It possessed a vigor, ease of establish- 
ment, verdant foliage and robust growth 
habit in marked contrast to common 
* * 
{Bulgarian Ivy is not to be confused with Baltic | 
less vigorous in growth and has frozen to the groy 
