Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-09-17
EVENING STAR.
Plants for Hangt.s B..net..

We, mat Is my wife and I-have been try
ing 10 decide what kinds OF plants were beSt
lor nanglng baskets, and without coming 20
any very positive conclusion. The dtfiicul-
lies In this case are Of such a nature that IA
Is not easy to makes selections TO suit ali
tastes, especially In field containing an al
most an limited variety OF materials from
which 10 choose. The general idea is that
small dropping or trailing plants are best
although 10 certain extent this is IN ac-
cordaEce with true artistic taste, still
plants OF different habit may be en-
ployed Tor the sake OF variety, aud
For trailing plants for basket Gull
ture The following named are excellent
aS tneir roots Will bear considerable rowding,
or, IN other words. thrive in a very small
quantity OF soil The moneywort fLv~i,raT-
chid f1nDtutdr1d) Is neat little vine. with
small sn, heart shaped leaves and bright yellow
mowers The Japan trailing honeysuckles,
such as the plain green leaved (Lonicera Ia
ponfca) l.. Halleana. and the golden yarie-
gsted lesved IL. aures articulata.l The ia
pan and English ivieS are also suitable
plants, especially the small leaved sorts and
Mhefe me baskets are not fally exposed TO
me sun during the entire day. The ivies
hrlNe best In half shady situation. and the
Narle2ated leaved sorts lose the bright colors
when fully exposed 10 the sun. ivy leaye,t
eeraniums are another class of plants adapt
cd 10 culture In baskets. and are srDerIor 10
he true ivies, which they so much re-
semole In foliage Their leaves are eN-
G. eilngly pretty and of such firm texture
the sun. In addition to these merits their
MOVERS are very snowy and prOiuced IA
aouhdance during the entire summer The
sElderWorts (TTddescGHfidS) also do we'll In
haif shady situations. The varie-atqd
ieaved lJr,1pels Tntdtd) and common, plain
IeaVed CT. repens) are the best known of
the creeping species. Creeping myrtles or
perlwlnkles tNincas) are also good basket
plants. not readily injured by heat or
droughts. The variegated leaved variety OF
the Nlnca major is very snowy, harmonic
Ing with other silvery foliaged plants like
some OF the begOnias, ivies and geraniums
But II all these trailing beauties are left out
OF the list. there will still be left plenty OF
handsome as well as suitable plants for
vases and hanging baskets. The exotic as
well as native ferns furnish us materials for
giving graceful outlines TO such ornaments
and even many species OF grass can be en-
Iloyed with fine effect. For a real snowy
basket that will not be "overgrown" before
the season is half over, the begonias afford
splendid material for structure. By plac-
Ing some moderately tall growing species in
tne center, like Zebrina, surrounded by a
row OF Rex, and bordering the basket with
some OF the bright silver-leaved sorts with
thelr broad foliage slightly dropping over
tne edges, the result will be an ornament
scarcely less attractive or beautiful than one
composed OF plants of smaller leaves or
more graceful habit. But with handsome
plants IL Is difficult 10 make a homely orna-
ment; hence our (my wife and II discussion
IN regard 10 the best plants for hanging bas-
kets.-Rtrd NeU Yorker.