Manual of Gardening Part 31

Wild panic gra.s.s, _Panic.u.m virgatum._(A)

Bambusas (and related things) of several sorts.

Ravenna gra.s.s, _Erianthus Ravennae_.

Arundo, _Arundo Donax,_ and var. _variegata._

Reed, _Phragmites communis._(A)

This and the remaining plants of the list should be planted in the edges of water or in bogs (the list might be greatly extended).

Wild rice, _Zizania aquatica._(A)

Cat-tail, _Typha angustifolia_(A) and _T. latifolia._(A)

Lizard's-tail, _Saururus cernuus._(A)

Peltandra, _Peltandra undulata._(A)

Orontium, _Orontium aquatic.u.m._(A)

Native calla, _Calla pal.u.s.tris._(A)

_A brief seasonal flower-garden or border list of herbaceous perennials._

To facilitate making a selection of perennial herbs for bloom, the plants in the following list are arranged according to their flowering season, beginning with the earliest. The name of the month indicates when they usually begin to bloom. It should be understood that the blooming season of plants is not a fixed period, but varies more or less with localities and seasons. These dates are applicable to most of the middle and northern states. Natives to North America are marked with an asterisk (A). This list is by Ernest Walker.

MARCH

Blue Wind-flower, _Anemone blanda._ 6 in. March-May. Sky-blue, star-like flowers. Foliage deeply cut. For border and rockwork.

Bloodroot, _Sanguinaria Canadensis._(A) 6 in. March-April. Pure white.

Glaucous foliage. Partial shade. Border or rock-work.

APRIL

Mountain Rock-cress, _Arabis albida._ 6 in. April-June. Flowers pure white; close heads in profusion. Fragrant. For dry places and rock-work.

Purple Rock-cress, _Aubrietia deltoidea._ 6 in. April-June. Small purple flowers in great profusion.

Daisy, _Bellis perennis,_ 4-6 in. April-July. Flowers white, pink, or red; single or double. The double varieties are the more desirable.

Cover the plants in winter with leaves. May be raised from seed, like pansies.

Spring Beauty, _Claytonia Virginica._(A) 6 in. April-May. Cl.u.s.ters of light pink flowers. Partial shade. From six to a dozen should be set together.

Shooting Star, _Dodecatheon Meadia._(A) 1 ft. April-May. Reddish purple flowers, orange-yellow eye, in cl.u.s.ters. Cool, shady location. Plant several in a place.

Dog's-bane, _Doronic.u.m plantagineum_ var. _excelsum._ 20 in. April-June.

Large, showy flowers; orange-yellow. Bushy plants.

Liver-leaf, _Hepatica acutiloba_(A) and _triloba._(A) 6 in. April-May.

Flowers small but numerous, varying white and pink. Partial shade.

Hardy Candytuft, _Iberis sempervirens._ 10 in. April-May. Small white flowers in cl.u.s.ters; profuse. Large, spreading, evergreen tufts.

Alpine Lamp-flower, _Lychnis alpina._(A) 6 in. April-May. Flowers star-like, in showy heads; pink. For border and rockery.

Early Forget-me-not, _Myosotis dissitiflora._ 6 in. April-June. Small cl.u.s.ters of deep sky-blue flowers. Tufted habit.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 252. The wild Trillium grandiflorum.]

Everblooming F., _M. pal.u.s.tris_ var. _semperflorens._ 10 in. Light blue; spreading habit.

Blue-bells, _Mertensia Virginica._(A) 1 ft. April-May. Flowers blue, changing to pink; pendent; tubular; not showy, but beautiful. Rich soil. Partial shade.

Tree Peony, _Paeonia Moutan._ (See _May,_ Paeonia.)

Moss Pink, _Phlox subulata._(A) 6 in. April-June. Numerous deep pink, small flowers; creeping habit; evergreen. Suitable for dry places as a covering plant.

_Trilliums._(A) Of several species; always attractive and useful in the border (Fig. 252). They are common in rich woods and copses. Dig the tubers in late summer and plant them directly in the border. The large ones will bloom the following spring. The same may be said of the erythronium, or dog's-tooth violet or adder's tongue, and of very many other early wild flowers.

MAY

_Ajuga reptans._ 6 in. May-June. Spikes of purple flowers. Grows well in shady places; spreading. A good cover plant.

Madwort, _Alyssum saxatile_ var. _compactum._ 1 ft. May-June. Flowers fragrant, in cl.u.s.ters, clear golden-yellow. Foliage silvery.

Well-drained soil. One of the best yellow flowers.

Columbine, _Aquilegia glandulosa_ and others (Fig. 253). 1 ft. May-June.

Deep blue sepals; white petals. Aquilegias are old favorites. (See _June._) The wild _A. Canadensis_(A) is desirable.

Lily-of-the-Valley, _Convallaria majalis._(A) 8 in. May-June. Racemes of small white bells; fragrant. Well known. Partial shade. (See Chap. VIII.)

Fumitory, _Corydalis n.o.bilis._ 1 ft. May-June. Large cl.u.s.ters of fine yellow flowers. Bushy, upright habit. Does well in partial shade.

Bleeding-Heart, _Dicentra spectabilis._ 2-1/2 ft. May-June. Well known.

Racemes of heart-shaped, deep pink and white flowers. Will bear partial shade.

Crested Iris, _Iris cristata._(A) 6 in. May-June. Flowers blue, fringed with yellow. Leaves sword-shaped.

German Iris, _I. Germanica._ 12-15 in. May-June. Numerous varieties and colors. Large flowers, 3-4 on a stem. Broad, glaucous, sword-shaped leaves.

Peony, _Paeonia officinalis._ 2 ft. May-June. This is the well-known herbaceous peony. There are numerous varieties and hybrids.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 253. One of the columbines.]

Large flowers, 4-6 in. across. Crimson, white, pink, yellowish, etc.

Suitable for lawn or the border. Fig. 250.