THE GROWING OF THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS
THE CLASSES OF PLANTS, AND
LISTS - Continued
JULY
Hollyhock, Althæa rosea. 5-8 ft. Summer and fall. Flowers white,
crimson, and yellow, lavender and purple. Stately plants of spire-like
habit; useful for the back of the border, or beds and groups. The newer
double varieties have flowers as fine as a camellia. The plant is nearly
biennial, but in rich, well-drained soil and with winter protection it
becomes perennial. Easily grown from seed, blooming the second year.
Seeds may be sown in August in frames and carried over winter in the
same place. The first year's bloom is usually the best.
Yellow Chamomile, Anthemis tinctoria. 12-38 in. July-November. Flowers
bright yellow, 1-2 in. in diameter. Useful for cutting. Dense,
bushy habit.
Delphinium Chinense. 3 ft. July-September. Variable colors; from deep
blue to lavender and white. Fine for the border.
D. formosum. 4 ft. July-September. Fine spikes of rich blue flowers.
One of the finest blue flowers cultivated.
Funkia lancifolia. (See under August.)
Helianthus multiflorus* var. fl. pl. 4 ft. July-September. Large
double flowers, of a fine golden color. Erect habit. An
excellent flower.
Lychnis Viscaria var. flore pleno. 12-15 in. July-August. Double,
deep rose-red flowers in spikes. For groups and masses.
Monarda didyma.* 2 ft. July-October. Showy scarlet flowers in
terminal heads.
Pentstemon grandiflorus.* 2 ft. July-August. Leafy spikes of showy
purple flowers.
P. lœvigalus var. Digitalis.* 3 ft. July-August. Pure white
flowers in spikes, with purple throats.
Platycodon grandiflorum (Campanula grandiflora). 3 ft. July-September.
Deep blue, bell-shaped flowers. Dense, fine, erect habit.
P. Mariesi. 1 ft. July-September. Flowers larger; deep violet-blue.
Heavier foliage.
AUGUST
Day Lily, Funkia subcordata. 18 in. August-October. Trumpet,
lily-like, pure-white flowers in clusters, borne upon a stalk from the
midst of a group of heart-shaped green leaves.
F. lancifolia var. albo-marginata. July-August. Lavender flowers.
Lance-like leaves margined with white.
Flame Flower, Kniphofia aloides (Tritoma Uvaria). 3 ft.
August-September. Bright orange-scarlet flowers, in close, dense spikes,
at the summit of several scape-like stems. Leaves slender, forming a
large tuft. For lawn and borders. Hardy only when covered with litter or
straw in winter.
Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis.* 2-1/4-4 ft. August-September.
Flowers intense cardinal-red, of unrivaled brilliancy. Tall spikes.
Stems clustered; erect.
Giant Daisy, Chrysanthemum (or Pyrethrum) uliginosum. 3-5 ft.
July-October. Flowers white, with golden centers. About 2 in. across. A
stout, upright, bushy plant. Useful for cutting.
Golden Glow, Rudbeckia laciniata.* 6-7 ft. August-September. Large
double golden-yellow flowers in great profusion. Bushy habit. Cut off
when done flowering. Leaves appear at the base and a new crop of
flowers, on stems about 1 ft. high, appear in October.
Goldenrod, Solidago rigida.* 3-5 ft. August-October. Flowers large
for this genus, in close, short racemes in a corymbose-paniculate
cluster. Fine, deep yellow. Erect habit. One of the best of the
goldenrods.
SEPTEMBER
Japanese Wind-flower, Anemone Japonica. 2 ft. August-October. Flowers
large, bright red. One of the best autumn flowers.
A. Japonica var. alba. Flowers pure white, with yellow centers. Fine
for cutting.
OCTOBER
Hardy Chrysanthemums. The Chinese and Japanese Chrysanthemums, so well
known, are hardy in light, well-drained soils, if well protected with
litter or leaves during the winter, and in such situations will stand
without protection south of Indianapolis. Chrysanthemums are gross
feeders, and should have a rich soil.
But there is a race of hardier or border chrysanthemums that is again
coming into favor, and it is sure to give much satisfaction to those who
desire flowers in latest fall. These chrysanthemums are much like the
"artemisias" of our mother's gardens, although improved in size, form,
and in range of color.
One hundred extra-hardy perennial herbs.
The following list of 100 "best hardy perennials" is adapted from a
report of the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario. These plants
are chosen from over 1000 species and varieties that have been on trial
at that place. Those considered to be the best twenty-five for Canada
are marked by a dagger †; and those native to North America by an
asterisk *.
Achillea Ptarmica flore pleno.--Height, 1 foot; in bloom fourth week
of June; flowers, small, pure white, double, and borne in clusters;
blooming freely throughout the summer. †
Aconitum autumnale.--Height, 3 to 4 feet; September; flowers, bluish
purple, borne in loose panicles.
Aconitum Napellus.--Height, 3 to 4 feet; July; flowers, deep blue,
borne on a large terminal spike; desirable for the rear of the border.
Adonis vernalis.--Height, 6 to 9 inches; first week of May; flowers,
large, lemon-yellow, borne singly from the ends of the stems.
Agrostemma (Lychnis) Coronaria var. atropurpurea.--Height, 1 to 2
feet; fourth week of June; flowers, medium size, bright crimson, borne
singly from the sides and ends of the stems; a very showy plant with
silvery foliage, and continues to bloom throughout the summer.
Anemone patens.*--Height 6 to 9 inches; fourth week of April;
flowers, large, and deep purple.
Anthemis tinctoria var. Kelwayi.--Height, 1 to 2 feet; fourth week
of June; flowers, large, deep yellow, borne singly on long stems; it
continues to bloom profusely throughout the summer; is very showy and
valuable for cutting. †
Aquilegia Canadensis.*--Height, 1 to 1-1/2 feet; third week of May;
flowers, medium size, red and yellow.
Aquilegia chrysantha.*--Height, 3 to 4 feet; fourth week of June;
flowers, large, bright lemon-yellow, with long slender spurs; much later
than other columbines. †
Aquilegia cœrulea.*--Height, 1 to 1-1/2 feet; fourth week of May;
flowers, large, deep blue with white center and long spurs. †
Aquilegia glandulosa.--Height, 1 foot; third week of May; flowers,
large, deep blue with white center and short spurs.
Aquilegia oxysepala.--Height, 1 foot; second week in May; flowers,
large, deep purplish blue with blue and yellow centers; a very desirable
early species.
Aquilegia Stuarti.--Height 9 to 12 inches; third week of May; flowers,
large, deep blue with white center; one of the best.
Arabis alpina.--Height, 6 inches; first week in May; flowers, small,
pure white, in clusters.
Arnebia echioides.--Height, 9 inches; third week of May; flowers,
yellow, borne in clusters with petals spotted with purple. One of the
most charming of early flowering plants.
Asclepias tuberosa.*--Height, 1-1/2 to 2 feet; third week of July.
Flowers, bright orange, borne in clusters. Very showy.
Aster alpinus.*--Height, 9 inches; first week of June; flowers,
large, bright purple, borne on long stems from the base of the plant;
the earliest flowering of all the asters.
Aster Amellus var. Bessarabicus.--Height, 1 to 1-1/2 feet; July to
September; flowers, large, deep purple, singly on long stems; very
fine. †