Evening star., 1940-07-27

plalllS, WHICH give SNdrp QeQnltlOn
to the edges of flower borders
Indoors we find many foliage
plants that are commonly grown for
decorative effects. The coleus with
its leaves of many colors is popular,
as are the screw pine (PandanuS)
wandering jew. crotons. rubber
plants. begonlas, aspidistra, philo-
dendron, etc.. all for their foliage.
1t would seem that the garden
might have even greater need for
useful foliage than has the family
living room.
Useful in Garden
Color Scheme.
In the garden there is often need
for {, foliage plant to separate or to
blend flower colors. Bright colored
foliage may well be used to draw the
eye to some point of interest.
Colorado blue spruce are certainly
not grown for shade but for the
color of their needles. The golden
arbor vitae, golden chamaecyparis
formerly known as Retinospora
and the concolor fir, are other
cvergreens grown for the color of
their foliage and useful as accent
points in large paintings.
To briefly describe a few of the
more common hardy foliage plants
is to invite criticism as every gar
dcncr has his or her preferences.
Many garden fans will feel that
foliage plants are a waste of time.
However. here are few that are
widely used
The artemisias are old friends,
having been grown as herbs in early
Colonial gardens as well as in
today's garden. They thrive in a
dry sunny border where their foil
age offers most pleasing contrast
to the other perennials. The thick
clumps with fine graceful foliage
stand like pillars. The variety
silver king CA albula) is probably
best known. 1t has Silver-gray TO-
liage and grows about feet high.
1t is useful not only in the border
but as foliage for summer bouquets
and when dried for winter use in
doors. There are several other
artcmisias with various habits of
growth. color, and forms of foliage
that are of use.
The sage, like the arteniisia, has
many species whose foliage is gray
lsh-green, The best known member
of this family is the scarlet sage
tSalvia splendens) which is COM
monty grown for its brilliant scarlet
flowers. The sage of cookery, S.
officinalis, is, however, a foliage
plant of great merit. Others in this
large family of sub-shrubs or hardy
perennials are the silver SALIVA
IS. argentea), violet saliva IS. ne
morosa). pitchers saliva IS. pitch
erD, and saliva azurea. These have
interesting foliage as we'll as snowy
spikes of flowers.
The sage enjoy rich loamv
soil although they will thrive in
leaner earth. Full sun is preferred.
They may be grown from seed, from
cuttings. and from divisions. The
larger growing species should be
staked One word of caution. they
are slow to start in the spring and
hence are often unintentionally in
lured by early spring cultivation if
not marked.
Lavenders Are
Effective.
The lavenders are somewhat SINH
lar in habit of growth, color of
foliage, and interesting spikes of
flowers. The English lavender
'Lavandula veraD is the best known
although not as commonly grown
here as it should be. The lavenders
prefer a rather light dry soil that
is sweet and sunny situation
Lavender-cotton (Santolina cham
necyparissus). like the foregoing, has
woolly gray foliage, and is a stiff
semi-shrubby perennial. The flowers
are of less Importance than the
foliage of this sun-loving two-foot,
old-world plant.
SnoW-in summer (CeraStium to-
mentosum) is low-growing edging
plant, with gray foliage that takes
its name from the generous crop
of bloom produced in late May and
June. 1t prefers sunny position,
and full sun, and is especially suited
to the sunny rock garden. 1t is
easily propagated from seed, divi-
sion, or cuttings.
Lambs -ears (Stachys lanata) is a
vigorous-growing hardy perennial
that is chiefly used as foliage plant.
There are other members of this
family that may be of interest to
the gardener. They include the
creeper IS. corsica), an annual, and
the tall-growing perennial S. grandi-
flora. They thrive in rich sandy
soil il sunny situation.
The pinks are of interest not only
because of their flowers but for their
foliage in the perennial border. The
foliage of the smaller-leaved sorts is
the most useful. There are many
members of this family Towering
at various seasons. They grow best
In well-drained garden loan, and
in full sun. The old-fashioned Glove
pink is one of the most dependable.
although the grass pink and the
double cluster pink are we'll worth
the growing. Divide them often if
you would keep them growing Wig
orously.
Silvery Foliage
Is Striking.
The plume-poppy Bocconia COR
data is one of the largest of the
silver-foliaged perennials. 1t is
grown in. the background of the
border for its striking appearance
as the leaves, which resemble those
of the blackroot. are large and
snowy. The plume-poppy thrives
in moist rich soil, in full sun. The
flowers which appear in midsum-
mer are rather small, although they