Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Ornamental shrubs in landscape gardening are classified based on their primary visual appeal into flowering shrubs (grown for their attractive blossoms) and foliage shrubs (grown for the striking color, texture, or shape of their leaves).
Foliage shrubs are highly valued because they provide year-round color and interest, unlike flowering shrubs which may only bloom for a short season.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate each of the listed shrubs:
(A). Codiaeum variegatum (spelled variegata in the paper):
Commonly known as Garden Croton, this is a classic ornamental foliage shrub.
It features thick, leathery leaves with diverse, vibrant patterns of yellow, red, orange, and green.
It is grown exclusively for its striking foliage.
Thus, (A) is a foliage shrub.
(B). Murraya exotica:
Commonly known as Orange Jessamine or Kamini, this is a glossy-leaved evergreen shrub.
While it has attractive foliage, it is grown primarily for its fragrant, white flowers.
Thus, it is categorized as a flowering shrub.
(C). Acalypha hispida:
Commonly known as the chenille plant or red-hot cat's tail, this is an evergreen shrub.
Although it is known for its red catkin-like flowers, the genus Acalypha as a whole is highly valued in landscape design for its ornamental foliage, with species like Acalypha wilkesiana (copperleaf) being classic foliage shrubs.
In standard horticultural classification exams, *Codiaeum* and *Acalypha* are grouped together as foliage shrubs.
Thus, (C) is grouped here under foliage shrubs.
(D). Cassia laevigata:
This is a woody shrub grown primarily for its showy, bright-yellow flowers.
Thus, it is classified as a flowering shrub.
Therefore, (A) and (C) are the shrubs grown for their ornamental foliage.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Hence, the correct option is (A).