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Plants for Natural, Informal Effects

AS CONTRASTED with plants adapted to heavy or compact formal effects the plants of this group have a more open, looser habit of growth. They are apt to be not quite as refined in character in some instances, and they are not required to produce the neat line of foliage which are part of the more formal designs.

It is difficult to define clearly, and to specify, what plants are to be used in informal effects. At the same time, a few standard kinds of plants to be used in the border plantations of lawns, in the border plantations of wild garden areas and informal garden areas should be listed for ready reference. It is much easier to use some of the plants included in the former list, especially those with the more vigorous, open habit of growth, for this type of planting, than to use plants included in this list for the same purpose as those included in the former list. Most large and small lawns which are not developed on definite, formal axial lines, should be bordered with plants of this kind. The reader is warranted in concluding that all plants not adapted for use in the preceding groups of plants for formal effects are automatically placed in this present group. It is safe to select any plant indigenous to the locality and also many of the introduced horticultural varieties, such as high-bush cranberry, flowering currant and dogwoods. Lilacs, tartarian honeysuckle, and hybrid rhododendrons, however, with greater refinement of foliage and of bloom, on the other hand, are obviously of more value in the more formal plantings. Collected stock is of great value for natural, informal effects. To reproduce nature and her group effects should be the object of natural, informal planting. A natural planting impresses the observer as does nature untouched by the hand of the designer, and this is a most difficult effect to obtain artificially.

It is difficult to define the effects which it is intended to produce through the use of plants included in this list. In general, these plants are selected because they are somewhat irregular in outline, loose in habit and texture of growth, and are not adapted to producing the neat lines of foliage required in formal development. Amelanchier oblongifolia Shad-bush Amelanchier rotundifolia June Berry Chionanthus virginica White Fringe Cornus (in variety) Dogwood Deutzia (in variety) Deutzia Diervilla (in variety) Weigela Forsythia suspensa Drooping Golden Bell Hippophae rhamnoides Sea Buckthorn Laburnum vulgare Golden Chain Lonicera fragrantissima Early Fragrant Honeysuckle Philadelphus grandiflorus Large-flowered Mock Orange Physocarpus opulifolius Ninebark Prunus avium plena European Double-flowering Cherry Ptelea trifoliata Hop Tree Rhododendron (in variety) Native Varieties Rhus (in variety) Sumac Ribes (in variety) Flowering Currant Robinia pseudacacia Black Locust Rosa rugosa Japanese Rose Salix babylonica Weeping Willow Sambucus canadensis American Elder Spiraea vanhouttei Van Houtte's Bridal Wreath Symphoricarpos racemosus Snowberry Symphoricarpos vulgaris Indian Currant Tamarix gallica French Tamarisk Viburnum opulus High-bush Cranberry