GARDEN EDGE PLANTS

Evening Star, Issue 22086, 20 July 1935, Page 23

GARDEN EDGE PLANTS

A BRIGHT SELECTION f A neat edging plant most effectually sets off the beauties of the borders and beds of plants and shrubs that are permanent features of the garden. With bedding-out plants the edging is usually arranged for in a contrasting colour to the general mass of tho bed, but it is not with that purpose, so much, that these notes are concerned (writes tho Auckland ‘ Herald’s ’ gardening contributor/ There are many positions, such as bordering paths, where something in the nature of a more permanent edging is desired, flowering for preference, neat in habit, and with a long season of attractiveness. Such things as cerastiuni can be ruled out at once as being too invasive, unless it is intended to take the plants up every year and divide them, which really debars them from being considered permanent edgings. Better, but still slightly rampant in growth, is Nepeta mussini (catmint), but it may be kept in check by an annual trimming-over, preferably in spring. This will allow the edging to bo in full beauty, most of the summer months. The lavender blue flowers tone welt with so many plants, while the silvery foliage is also attractive. For cool, shady places there is nothing to equal the mossy saxifrages. Not all tho varieties are suitable, those of a compact nature being the best, such as the varieties of S. muscoides. | Another plant for cool places is Viola 1 gracilis; this is better known as a rock plant, but when once established in a cool position it will make one of the 1 daintiest edges imaginable. It never 1 seems to tire of flowering. Its one 1 fault is that sometimes it is very capriI cious in making a start. Not all soils 1 and situations will suit it. A fair proj portion of lime and sweet leaf mould are valuable ingredients where this lovely viola is to be planted. A Very easy plant to grow, and quite indifferent as to whether it is planted in sun or shade, is the perennial candytuft, Jberis sempervirens. The variety known as Little Gem should be chosen. Tho glossy, dark, evergreen foliage sets off the neat heads of pure white flowers to advantage. For very sunny .positions'there is little to equal the Thrift, Armeria maritima. The common wild form is usually of a washed-out hue, but there are some garden-raised forms of much better colour. The larger variety, A. latifolia, grows too tall for the purpose of an edging. Another grand perennial, especially for seaside gardens, is Festuca ovina gliuica, tho blue-leaved grass. This makes tufts of extremely fine blue-grey grass, and is very decorative in effect. It presents no difficulties in culture, except that, like tho Thrift, it resents cold, heavy clay. Most of the Heucheras are rather too tall and loose for edging purposes, but there is one hybrid form more adaptable; this is H. tiarclloideS. The colouring of the neat foliage is the point of most importance for edging, hut light panicles of flowers are produced in spring and again in autumn Veronica incana makes an excellent border, and has distinctive beauty of both flower and foliage. The silvery-grey foliage shows best when planted as a border to dark-green leaved-shrubs, and when the flower spikes of rich violet blue are produced the whole effect is> charming.