Evening star., 1947-10-26

ASAt CFCA tIIOuSu IL HuSC IllLeT I'LL
If they get some sunlight, especially
morning sun, they will do very well
even though little may reach them
for the balance of the day.
Shade is not the only limiting
factor. Sometimes we blame the
shade when in reality it may be the
lack OF food or moisture that is
stunting the plant growth. Trees
cut of much of the rainfall. The
thirsty leaves take up a substantial
portion as 1t falls. Tree roots take
up both food and moisture and un-
less the gardener is willing to see
that there is plenty for both the
tree and the plants growing beneath
he cannot expect the plants to
thrive. Deep-rooted trees do not
offer as much competition to shrubs
as do the Shallow-rooted.
Assuming that the soil is we'll pre-
pared and the gardener is willing to
see that the plants receive needed
iood and moisture, the following can
be expected to thrive in moderate
shade such as that Of an oak tree.
Standard Ground Covers.
AL of the standard ground covers
do well in shade-the japanese
spurge (PachySandra terminalis) 4,
myrtle (Cinca minor and English
ivy (Hedra helix). OF these three
only the myrtle has conspicuous
flowers Another ground cover shrub
which is seldom listed by the nurs-
cries is box huckleberry (Gaylus-
sacia brachycera. 1t grows about
foot high; spreads by underground
stolons, and has pinkish flowers and
cadet-blue berries on an evergreen
twiggy bush.
Azaleas and rhododendrons for
the shady garden are too we'll known
to need description, except, perhaps,
to point out that some of our natives
as well as several of the introduced
types are part of large group
which merit consideration. OF the
natives the pinxter flower (R. nudi-
forum, the .pinkshell (R. vasseyD
flame (R. calendulaceuml, sweet
tR. arboreScenS1, and swamp R.
viscosum are, all desirable. Then
there are the kaempferi tR. OBJ
tusum) and kurume tR. japonicum)
groups OF introduced species which
include many named varieties that
are HARDY here and while not so tall
growing do produce masses of
brightly colored flowers in the
spring. They do best in light shade
although they will grow in full sun.
The rhododendrons. as we think
Of them. include such standbys as
the rosebay (R. maximum), the
catawba fR catawbiensel and the
Carolina lR carolinianum). There
are a number of excellent hybrids
which are we'll worth growing in the
shady garden. It should be noted
that the rosebay Is one of the most
commonly sold rhododendrons but
that it needs shade and moisture,
more Sc than most of the others, and
is the largest growing-to Is feet.
Mountain Laurel Needs Moisture.
Most gardeners in this area are
familiar with the mountain laurel
CKalmia latifolia) but they may not
realize that it needs considerable
moisture to thrive Some shade is
desirable although if the soil is
moist and well supplied with humus
they will do well in full sun.
The mountain and japanese pieris
sometimes called andromeda) are
attractive evergreens that thrive in
light shade. The mountain pieris
(Pieris foribunda) has upright
panicles of bloom in the early
spring. Their snowy buds are at
tractive throughout the winter. The
japanese (P. japonica) has dropping
panicles of flowers. Both are useful
in the shady garden.
The leucothoe (Leucothoe Gates