CARE. Ordinary soil, cool, moist, part shade.
PROPAGATION. Seeds (flowers the second year), division of clumps in late summer.
SPECIAL USES. Rock gardens, edge of pools.
Nepeta hederacea (glechoma) Labiatae Ground Ivy
This is a ground cover, one that can get out of hand unless checked, but it has its uses in shady spots where other covers do not flourish. About the best-liked variety is variegata, which has round leaves neatly scalloped on the edge and embroidered with white. In the spring it has spires of blue flowers.
CARE. Ordinary or sandy soil. Drainage, either sun or shade. Cut off faded flowers.
PROPAGATION. Seeds, division.
SPECIAL USES. Ground cover, containers, baskets, house and greenhouse plantings, rock gardens.
Oenothera Onagraceae Evening Primrose, Sundrop
The sundrops bloom by day; the evening primroses stay open at night and play host to the moths of the garden. There is a miniature of each type for the small garden. Each has the common characteristic of large yellow poppy-like flowers which are short-lived but are quickly replaced by others for most of the summer.