The number of plants suitable to produce a semitropical mass or for the center or back of a group, which may be readily grown from seed, is limited. Some of the best kinds, are included below.

It will often be worth while to supplement these with others, to be had at the florists, such as caladiums, screw pines, _Ficus elastica,_ araucarias, _Musa Ensete,_ palms, dracenas, crotons, and others. Dahlias and tuberous begonias are also useful. About a pond the papyrus and lotus may be used.

Practically all the plants used for this style of gardening are liable to injury from winds, and therefore the beds should be placed in a protected situation. The palms and some other greenhouse stuff do better if partially shaded.

In the use of such plants, there are opportunities for the exercise of the nicest taste. A gross feeder, as the ricinus, in the midst of a bed of delicate annuals, is quite out of place; and a stately, royal-looking plant among humbler kinds often makes the latter look common, when if headed with a chief of their own rank all would appear to the best advantage.

Some of the plants much used for subtropical bedding, and often started for that purpose in a greenhouse or coldframe, are:

• Acalypha.
• Amarantus.
• Aralia Sieboldii (properly Fatsia Japonica).
• Bamboos.
• Caladium and colocasia.
• Canna.
• Coxcomb, particularly the new "foliage" kinds.
• Grasses, as eulalias, pampas-grass, pennisetums.
• Gunnera.
• Maize, the striped form.
• Ricinus or castor bean.
• Scarlet sage.
• Wigandia.

Cite: WikiBooks