ASTRAKHAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20702, 27 April 1929, Page 7

ASTRAKHAN.

MODEST BUT UNCOMMONLY INTERESTING BORDER PLANTS. These are quite nice plants for the hardy flower border, and they combine nicely with the majority of more brilliant flowers. The palmately-lohed leaves are in themselves attractive, and the somewhat fluffy, umbelliferous flowers, white or pink, veined and stained with green, are very pretty in a quiet way. The plants succeed in any ordinarily good soil, but prefer a moist situation. They are very easily increased by root divisions in autumn or spring. The most desirable species are; A. major, with pinkish flowers, one to two feet, an ornamental and desirable plant; A. carniolica, white flowers and red-tinged leaves, six to 12 inches high, a very pretty plant for border or rockery. A. helleborifolia, with pink flowers, is sometimes called A. maxima; it grows to a height of one to two feet, and is a good border or woodland plant. These European plants are perfectly hardy, and are most effective when grouped in the border with plants of bolder growth and more brilliant colouring, They are particularly appropriate when used in grey or blue borders, where their grace of form and quiet colouring are characters in good taste. The plants are herbaceous in character. Not the least important quality possessed by astrantias is the good temper they display in situations where very few plants will succeed, such as on exposed banks, in woodlands and shrubbery borders, shaded corners of gardens, and In soils which may be described as harsh and hungry.