_Astragalus._--Showy pea-flowered plants, the smaller species adapted for rockwork; sandy soil. _A. dasyglottis_, 6 in., has bluish-purple flowers in August and September; and _A. monspessulanus_, 8 in., crimson-purple in July; while _A. hypoglottis_, 6 in., produces in summer compact heads of pretty flowers, which are either purple or white. There are many very ornamental kinds.
_Aubrietia._--Beautiful dwarf spring-blooming rock plants, forming carpety tufts of flowers of simple cruciferous form. _A. delioidea_ is of a deep lilac-blue; _A. Campbelliae_ is more compact and rather darker, approaching to purple; _A. grandiflora_ and _graeca_ are rather larger, but of a lighter hue. Light sandy soil.
_Bambusa._--The bamboo family are elegant arborescent grasses (see BAMBOO).
_Baptisia._--Stoutish erect-growing, 2 to 3 ft., with smooth foliage and spikes of pea-like flowers. _B. australis_ is purplish-blue, _B. alba_, white, _B. exaltata_, deep blue; all flowering in the summer months.
_Bellis._--_B. perennis flore-pleno_, the Double Daisy, consists of dwarf showy plants 3 to 4 in. high, flowering freely in spring if grown in rich light soil, and frequently divided and transplanted. The white and pink forms, with the white and red quilled, and the variegated-leaved _aucubaefolia_, are some of the best.
_Bocconia._--Stately poppyworts, 6 to 8 ft. _B. cordata_ has heart-shaped lobed leaves, and large panicles of small flesh-coloured flowers. Sometimes called _Macleaya_. Deep sandy loam.
_Brodiaea._--Pretty bulbous plants. _B. grandiflora_, 1 ft., has large bluish-purple flowers; _B. coccinea_, 2 to 3 ft., has tubular campanulate nodding flowers of a rich crimson with green tips. Sandy loam.
_Bulbocodium._--Pretty spring-flowering crocus-like bulbs. _B. vernum_, 4 to 6 in. high, purplish-lilac, blooms in March. Good garden soil.
_Buphthalmum._--Robust composite herbs with striking foliage, for the back of herbaceous or shrubbery borders. _B. cordifolium_, 4 ft., has large cordate leaves, and heads of rich orange flowers in cymose panicles in July. Also called _Telekia speciosa_.
_Calandrinia._--Showy dwarf plants for sunny rockwork, in light sandy soil. _C. umbellata_, 3 to 4 in., much branched, with narrow hairy leaves, and corymbs of magenta-crimson flowers in the summer months.