Chapter XLI: Some Hardy Flowering Trees and Shrubs (4)

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| COUNTRY OR | COLOUR |
NAME | ORIGIN AND | AND | GENERAL REMARKS.
| NATURAL ORDER. | SEASON. |
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| | |
Prunus (Rosaceae) |...... |...... |This is a beautiful genus.
| | |As at present constituted
| | |it contains all those trees
| | |which were formerly and in
| | |many places still are
| | |included under the generic
| | |titles of Amygdalus,
| | |Persica, Cerasus, Padus,
| | |&c. The genus is divided
| | |into six sections, viz.,
| | |Amygdalus, which includes
| | |Almonds and Peaches;
| | |Armeniaca, the Apricots;
| | |Prunus, which contains the
| | |true Plums and the
| | |Blackthorn; Cerasus, the
| | |various Cherries; Padus,
| | |the Bird Cherries; and
| | |Laurocerasus, under which
| | |is placed the Cherry
| | |Laurel, Portugal Laurel,
| | |&c. Although these genera
| | |may differ outwardly, yet
| | |they are botanically of the
| | |same character. The genus
| | |is widely spread,
| | |representatives being found
| | |in Europe and through Asia
| | |southward to Persia and
| | |Afghanistan, and eastward
| | |to China and Japan; it is
| | |also well represented in
| | |North America. With the
| | |exception of the section
| | |Laurocerasus, all the
| | |members of the genus are
| | |deciduous trees or shrubs
| | |of various sizes, and most
| | |of them are very beautiful,
| | |especially in spring. A
| | |fairly light well-drained
| | |soil is best. If inclined
| | |to be cold and heavy and is
| | |not very deep, the plums or
| | |any which succeed on the
| | |plum stock, are best, as
| | |they are more
| | |surface-rooting than the
| | |remainder. The presence of
| | |lime in the soil is highly
| | |beneficial to all the
| | |Prunuses and, if not
| | |naturally present, can
| | |easily be given in the form
| | |of old mortar-rubbish
| | |forked in liberally round
| | |them. Propagation is
| | |effected by seeds,
| | |cuttings, layers, or by
| | |budding or grafting.
| | |Details of propagation will
| | |be found with each section.
| | |
P. Amygdalus |Native of |Pink; |This is the Almond, the
(the Almond) |Southern Europe |Spring |tree which foreshadows the
|and the Levant | |coming of spring, its
| | |leafless shoots enveloped
| | |in pink-tinted flowers. In
| | |the southern and central
| | |parts of the country it is
| | |largely grown, especially
| | |in small suburban gardens,
| | |but is not quite hardy
| | |enough for the north,
| | |unless the position is very
| | |favourable. The fruit is
| | |chiefly composed of the
| | |large deeply-pitted stone,
| | |which is only covered with
| | |a thick, tough, woolly
| | |skin. There are five good
| | |varieties: Amara, the
| | |Bitter Almond, with large
| | |white flowers tinged with a
| | |soft rose colour in the
| | |centre; dulcis, the Sweet
| | |Almond, with large red
| | |flowers and amongst the
| | |first to open; macrocarpa,
| | |which has larger flowers
| | |and fruits than the type,
| | |but the flowers are of
| | |paler colour; pendula, a
| | |half-weeping variety, deep
| | |pink flowers; persicoides,
| | |a handsome tree, more
| | |upright in growth than the
| | |type, and very free. The
| | |large pink flowers open
| | |somewhat earlier than
| | |those of the common Almond.
| | |
*P. davidiana |China |White or |This is a small tree and
(Amygdalus | |pale rose;|one of the earliest to
davidiana) | |January |bloom; the flowers opening
| |or early |as early as January in mild
| |February |weather, though the middle
| | |or end of February is its
| | |usual flowering time. The
| | |buds are not injured by
| | |frost, but open when the
| | |weather gets milder. The
| | |leaves are broader and of
| | |duller colour than those of
| | |the Almond, but the flowers
| | |are of about the same size
| | |and substance. There are
| | |two forms, alba, white,
| | |which is the best, and
| | |rubra, rose or red.
| | |Beautiful under glass.
| | |
P. incana |Asia Minor |Pale red; |This species is allied to
(Amygdalus incana) | |March and |the pretty P. nana; it is a
| |April |spreading shrub 4 to 6 feet
| | |high with linear leaves
| | |silvery-white underneath.
| | |The flowers are about half
| | |the size of those of the
| | |Almond and freely produced.
| | |
*P. nana (Amygdalus|Eastern Europe |Rose; |This delightful little
nana) |and the southern|March and |shrub is rarely more than 3
|parts of Russia |April |feet high, the thin twiggy
| | |growths being covered every
| | |Spring with rose-coloured
| | |flowers. It makes a
| | |charming bed for the
| | |Spring, and is very easily
| | |increased by layering.
| | |
P. orientalis |Western Asia |Rose; |This shrub grows to a
| |April |height of about 6 feet, but
| | |is not very hardy. So
| | |many, however, enjoy the
| | |beauty of the Almond family
| | |that we include it, as in
| | |many southern gardens it is
| | |happy. The willow-like
| | |leaves are silvery white.
| | |
*P. Persica (the |China, but |Pink; |This beautiful
Peach), (Syn. |formerly |April or |spring-flowering tree needs
Persica vulgaris |considered a |May |no description. It is not
and Amygdalus |native of Persia| |grown, however, so much as
Persica) | | |the various double-flowered
| | |varieties, such as
| | |flore-roseo-pleno and
| | |flore-albo-pleno; the
| | |former has very double
| | |bright rose flowers and the
| | |latter white.
| | |Flore-rubro-pleno is a
| | |double red form. The
| | |variety foliis rubris has
| | |deep purple-coloured
| | |leaves; the flowers are
| | |tinged with the same colour
| | |and the fruits are dark and
| | |freely produced. Magnifica
| | |is a double red-flowered
| | |variety with larger and
| | |finer flowers than the
| | |others, and the finest of
| | |all. All the Almonds are
| | |best propagated by budding
| | |or grafting on suitable
| | |stocks, which are the
| | |common Almond for warm
| | |light soils, and the Plum
| | |for heavier soils and
| | |colder localities. For
| | |budding the Mussel plum
| | |stock is the best to use,
| | |and either the same or the
| | |Myrobella plum for
| | |grafting. The latter is not
| | |usually a good stock for
| | |budding, the bark being too
| | |thin to hold the bud
| | |properly, which objection
| | |does not hold good with the
| | |Mussel plum stock. The
| | |species can also be got
| | |from seeds, and P. nana is
| | |best raised as stated from
| | |layers, or cuttings of
| | |half-ripened wood, which
| | |will strike, though not
| | |very readily.
| | |
P. Armeniaca (the | | |Many of the species in this
Apricots) | | |group are amongst the most
| | |precious flowering shrubs
| | |of the garden. All can be
| | |increased by seed. P.
| | |tomentosa and P. triloba
| | |flore-pleno can also be got
| | |from layers or cuttings.
| | |Half-ripened wood of the
| | |latter will also root
| | |readily, and soon form
| | |sturdy young trees. These
| | |two in particular should
| | |always be on their own
| | |roots: a plum stock kills
| | |them in a few years.
| | |
P. Armeniaca |Northern China |Small, |We mention this because
(common Apricot) | |white, |it is the parent of the
| |opening |various varieties of
| |early in |Apricot.
| |the year, |
| |and |
| |frequently|
| |blackened |
| |by frost |
| | |
*P. Mume |Japan |Rose; |This is a small and pretty
| |early, |tree of upright growth, and
| |before the|the leaves large and
| |leaves |shining green in colour.
| | |There are four varieties,
| | |viz., flore-albo-pleno,
| | |double white;
| | |flore-roseo-pleno, double
| | |bright rose;
| | |flore-rubro-pleno, double
| | |red; and pendula, which
| | |makes a pretty, small,
| | |weeping tree if worked
| | |standard high.
| | |
P. tomentosa |China and Japan |pinkish |This is a pretty, small
| | |branching shrub, with stout
| | |leaves covered with a thick
| | |tomentum; the flowers are
| | |followed by small red
| | |fruits.
| | |
*P. triloba |China |Pink; |The species is not of much
| |March or |account, but the double
| |early |variety flore-pleno is one
| |April |of the most handsome of
| | |flowering shrubs. Its
| | |large, double,
| | |rose-coloured flowers are
| | |produced so profusely that
| | |hardly a leaf is visible.
| | |For a wall it is
| | |invaluable, but in this
| | |position it should only be
| | |pruned immediately after
| | |flowering, the summer
| | |growths being allowed to
| | |develop at will, as this is
| | |the wood that will produce
| | |flowers the following
| | |season.
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| COUNTRY OR | COLOUR |
NAME. | ORIGIN AND | AND | GENERAL REMARKS.
| NATURAL ORDER. | SEASON. |
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| | |
Prunus (the Plums) | | |There are several species
| | |of Prunus, but those
| | |mentioned are the most
| | |important for gardens. The
| | |Plums are best grown from
| | |seeds, but if these cannot
| | |be got then they must be
| | |worked upon the Wild,
| | |Mussel, and Myrobella or
| | |Myrobalan Plum. Plum stocks
| | |should be raised from seed.
| | |If got from layers or
| | |suckers they are liable to
| | |throw up suckers from the
| | |base, and ruin the plants
| | |worked on them.
| | |
P. cerasifera |Uncertain, but |Small, |This is the well-known
(P. mirobalana) |probably of |pure |Myrobalan Plum, and the
|Caucasian origin|white; |seedlings are used as
| |Spring |stocks. Its hardiness and
| | |vigour in almost all soils
| | |and climates make it a good
| | |small shrub, and its white
| | |flower-clusters are
| | |delightful in early spring.
| | |The fruits are popular on
| | |the Continent, and are red
| | |in colour. It is used as a
| | |hedge in some places. There
| | |are two varieties, viz.,
| | |angustifolia pendula, which
| | |is half pendulous in
| | |growth, and the well-known
| | |atropurpurea, more often
| | |called *P. Pissardi, which
| | |is a native of Persia, and
| | |has warm purple leaves,
| | |which get darker with age.
| | |The flowers are
| | |rose-tinted. It is a good
| | |shrub for colour, but must
| | |not be too freely planted.
| | |
P. communis |The origin of |White; |The wild plum is mentioned
(Wild Plum) |this plum is |April and |because a well-known tree,
|uncertain; it is|March |but its varieties are more
|stated in some | |beautiful. *Pruneauliana is
|works to be a | |very handsome; its fruit is
|native of | |the prune imported from
|Britain, Europe,| |abroad. It is of upright
|and a part of | |growth, with downy leaves,
|Asia | |and large, pure white
| | |flowers. *P. fl. pl. is
| | |extremely handsome; it has
| | |double flowers. The wild
| | |plum is the same as P.
| | |domestica.
| | |
*P. divaricata |Wide |White; |This is one of the most
|distribution |April or |beautiful of the Plums,
|from Macedonia |late March|but rarely seen. A fine
|Caucasus and |in a mild |example of it is now in
|Persia. |season |the rock garden at Kew,
|Introduced in | |and when the weather is
|1822 | |mild before March is out,
| | |this spreading tree is
| | |enveloped in snowy-white
| | |flowers. But unfortunately
| | |its flowers are sometimes
| | |spoilt by late frosts. The
| | |growth is slender, twiggy,
| | |and dark in colour.
| | |
P. spinosa (the |Britain, and |White |The Sloe or Blackthorn of
Sloe) |Europe, North | |the English hedgerow is
|Asia, &c. | |familiar, but the variety
| | |*flore-pleno is a good
| | |garden shrub; its spreading
| | |Spring shoots are covered
| | |in April with double white
| | |flowers, each like a little
| | |rosette, and longer lasting
| | |than the Sloe of the
| | |English lane. It is as yet
| | |rare in British gardens.
| | |This should be worked on
| | |the type.
| | |
The Cherries | | |A beautiful group of
(Cerasus group) | | |flowering trees. They are
| | |propagated by seeds or by
| | |grafting them on stocks of
| | |the Gean (P. Avium), but
| | |never resort to this
| | |practice if possible to
| | |avoid it. The small-growing
| | |cherries, P. humilis, P.
| | |Jacquemontii, P. japonica,
| | |P. prostrata, and P.
| | |pumila, must be increased
| | |by layers; the Gean stock
| | |kills them.
| | |
P. acida |Europe |White; |P. acida would be little
| |April |heard of if it were not for
| | |its variety, P. a.
| | |semperflorens, (the All
| | |Saints' Cherry), which
| | |blooms twice or thrice in a
| | |season, indeed, keeps up a
| | |scattered succession from
| | |May to September. The first
| | |display of flowers takes
| | |place in April, and in
| | |about two months afterwards
| | |it blooms again. The fruits
| | |are very abundant, and are
| | |scarlet in colour. There
| | |are several other
| | |varieties, but not of much
| | |consequence.
| | |
P. Avium (the |Europe, and a |Pure |The Wild Cherry is pretty,
Gean or Wild |woodland tree |white; |and it is interesting as
Cherry) |in many parts |April and |the parent of the fruiting
|of these Isles |May |cherries, but neither this
| | |species nor its varieties,
| | |decumana, white, the
| | |cut-leaved laciniata, or
| | |the weeping pendula, can
| | |approach the beauty of the
| | |*double white
| | |(flore-pleno), which is one
| | |of the loveliest of all
| | |flowering trees. In late
| | |April the whole tree seems
| | |enveloped in blossom as
| | |white as driven snow, and
| | |it lasts for many days in
| | |this condition. No garden
| | |should be without this
| | |queen of flowering trees.
| | |
P. Cerasus (Dwarf |Europe and |White; |This is not very
or Wild Cherry) |Britain |Spring |interesting, except that it
| | |is one of the parents of
| | |the fruiting cherry, and in
| | |the garden is hardly
| | |wanted, as its
| | |double-flowered varieties
| | |are far more beautiful,
| | |especially *Rhexi
| | |flore-pleno, which has very
| | |double, snow-white,
| | |rosette-shaped flowers. It
| | |is one of the most
| | |beautiful of all the
| | |Cherries, and when grown as
| | |a standard makes a small
| | |and spreading tree of much
| | |charm. It is sometimes
| | |catalogued as C. caproniana
| | |multiplex, C. c.
| | |ranunculiflora, and C.
| | |serotina flore-pleno.
| | |Persicifolia has similar
| | |flowers, but tinged with
| | |rose. C. Cerasus and C.
| | |Avium have much in common,
| | |but the former has smaller
| | |leaves and an acid fruit.
| | |
P. Chamaecerasus |Europe, but long|White |This is a small shrub,
(Siberian Cherry) |grown in English|flowers, |seldom more than 4 feet
|gardens |3/4 in. |high; it has slender
| |across; |branches, shining
| |Spring |dark-green leaves and
| | |flowers, followed by small
| | |reddish-purple acid fruits.
| | |When grown as a standard
| | |it makes a round,
| | |half-drooping and graceful
| | |tree.
| | |
*P. japonica |China and Japan |Double, |This is one of the
| |pure white|prettiest of small shrubs
| | |when in flower. It is very
| | |charming against a wall,
| | |but is a success in the
| | |open, flowering freely, and
| | |for this reason makes an
| | |interesting and beautiful
| | |group. It grows between 3
| | |and 4 feet high, and its
| | |long slender branches are
| | |often weighed down by the
| | |wealth of pure-white
| | |flowers. The leaves are
| | |tinged with red when young.
| | |The flowers of the variety
| | |flore-roseo-pleno are rich
| | |rose; it is a beautiful
| | |shrub. Increase only by
| | |layers or by cuttings;
| | |never graft.
| | |
*P. prostrata |Mountains of the|Bright |Mr. Goldring in the
|Levant |pink; |_Gardener's Magazine_,
| |Spring |April 6, 1901, p. 210,
| | |writes thus of this Cherry:
| | |"I am afraid that this
| | |species, which is a low
| | |shrub from the mountains of
| | |the Levant, is not very
| | |easy to obtain, yet it is
| | |one of the most delightful
| | |of dwarf cherries. It is a
| | |spreading plant with
| | |slender arching branches,
| | |but scarcely prostrate.
| | |The leaves are amongst the
| | |smallest in this group,
| | |being from a half-inch to
| | |one and a half inches long,
| | |and finely toothed. Nor are
| | |the flowers large, being a
| | |half-inch or little more in
| | |diameter, but in their
| | |profusion they almost hide
| | |the branches. The colour is
| | |a bright, and, among
| | |Prunus, unusual shade of
| | |rose. This shrub was known
| | |to Loudon, and was
| | |recommended by him. It has,
| | |indeed, been in cultivation
| | |for nearly one hundred
| | |years, but seems to have
| | |shared the fate of many
| | |other lovely hardy shrubs
| | |in the middle decades of
| | |last century, and almost
| | |passed out of cultivation.
| | |It grows at elevations of
| | |5000 to 6000 feet, and is
| | |perfectly hardy."
| | |
P. pseudo-cerasus |China and Japan |...... |This is a glorious cherry,
(Japanese Cherry) | | |and very popular in Japan;
| | |indeed, it is one of the
| | |most beautiful
| | |introductions we have had
| | |from that land of flowers.
| | |The recent double-flowered
| | |varieties should be in all
| | |gardens, and given a fairly
| | |moist soil and sunny
| | |situation, will bloom well.
| | |P. pseudo-cerasus goes
| | |under several names, such
| | |as Cerasus Sieboldi rubra,
| | |C. Watereri, and others. It
| | |is a small tree here, with
| | |stout greyish branches, and
| | |firm broad serrated leaves.
| | |*J. H. Veitch, with
| | |intense deep rose flowers,
| | |is very charming, and
| | |blooms from a fortnight to
| | |three weeks later than the
| | |type. The brownish-tinted
| | |foliage is quite a feature.
| | |
*P. pendula |Japan |Deep pink;|A beautiful tree of
(Cerasus pendula | |April and |distinct weeping habit, and
rosea) | |May |raised from seed quite
| | |readily, retaining its true
| | |character. The flowers are
| | |borne profusely, and
| | |sometimes open in March. It
| | |is a tree that could be
| | |raised from layers. Mr.
| | |Bean, writing in the
| | |_Garden_ of April 13,
| | |1901, says: "Prunus pendula
| | |is as naturally pendulous
| | |in growth as the Babylonian
| | |Willow is, and it should,
| | |if possible, be obtained on
| | |its own roots. It is an
| | |early flowering
| | |kind--probably the earliest
| | |of the Cherries--being in
| | |bloom as a rule soon after
| | |April comes in. The flowers
| | |are of a lovely shade of
| | |delicate rose, but are not
| | |large. They are, however,
| | |freely borne, especially
| | |after a hot, ripening
| | |Summer and Autumn. In the
| | |United States it succeeds
| | |even better than here, and
| | |by some authorities is
| | |regarded as the loveliest
| | |of Japanese trees
| | |introduced to that country.
| | |So much cannot be said of
| | |it in Britain, but it is
| | |well worth cultivation for
| | |its beauty and earliness."
| | |
*P. serrulata |Introduced from |The |This is one of the most
(Cerasus serrulata)|China about 80 |flowers |ornamental of the Cherries.
|years ago. Also |are in |It is naturally a small
|a native of |large |tree with a rather loose
|Japan |loose |habit, and is peculiar by
| |heads, and|reason of its short-jointed
| |are white,|stunted-looking branches.
| |or white |The leaves are fairly large
| |suffused |and very evenly serrated.
| |more or |For lawns or shrubberies it
| |less |is excellent, making a good
| |deeply |companion plant to its own
| |with rose,|countryman, the
| |and 1 inch|large-flowered
| |to 1-1/2 |pseudo-Cerasus and its
| |inch |European cousins, Cerasus
| |across. |and Avium. In addition to
| |End of |being an excellent outdoor
| |April |tree, it may be cultivated
| | |in pots for forcing for the
| | |conservatory in Winter and
| | |Spring.
| | |
*P. Mahaleb |Europe |White; |The Mahaleb is well known
| |April and |for its remarkable
| |May |profusion of pure white
| | |blossom and its free
| | |graceful habit. In the
| | |variety pendula, the
| | |pendent character of the
| | |branches is not unduly
| | |marked, but is sufficient
| | |to add greatly to the
| | |beauty of the tree. It is
| | |not only one of the best of
| | |Cherries, but of all
| | |flowering trees, and is as
| | |well adapted for planting
| | |in groups as it is when
| | |isolated as a single
| | |specimen. The flowers are
| | |borne on short racemes, and
| | |in such abundance as to
| | |envelop the tree in a
| | |snow-white mantle. Every
| | |garden should have at least
| | |one weeping Mahaleb.
| | |
P. Padus (the Bird |Europe, and a |White; |A well-known tree, and
Cherry) |great part of |Spring |frequently seen in
|Asia | |woodlands, where its strong
| | |scent is quickly detected.
| | |It is a shapely tree,
| | |growing 20 feet to 30 feet
| | |high, and has long erect
| | |branches, and in Spring
| | |drooping racemes of flowers
| | |6 inches or more long. The
| | |fruits are small and
| | |shining black in colour.
| | |There are, however, many
| | |poor forms, sometimes with
| | |almost greenish flowers.
| | |Perhaps the most valuable
| | |is the double variety,
| | |flore-pleno, which has very
| | |long racemes and very pure
| | |white. Pendula is a weeping
| | |variety which will, no
| | |doubt, be an acquisition,
| | |but it is of too recent
| | |appearance here to say much
| | |about it. It is curious to
| | |note that there is a
| | |variety (stricta) with an
| | |exactly opposite tendency,
| | |branches and racemes being
| | |quite erect. P. virginiana,
| | |a nearly allied Bird Cherry
| | |from North America, is also
| | |represented by a pendulous
| | |form. P. serotina and its
| | |variety pendula, and the
| | |other members of the Padus
| | |group, are not important.
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| COUNTRY OR | COLOUR |
NAME. | ORIGIN AND | AND | GENERAL REMARKS.
| NATURAL ORDER. | SEASON. |
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| | |
LAUROCERASUS | | |
GROUP. | | |
| | |
P. ilicifolia |California |White |A tender evergreen with
| | |holly-like leaves, but only
| | |hardy in warm southern and
| | |western countries. It is a
| | |small bush, 6 feet to 8
| | |feet high, and has short
| | |and erect flower racemes
| | |and deep-green leaves.
| | |
P. Laurocerasus |East Europe |White |A well-known evergreen, too
(Cherry Laurel) | | |freely planted in the past,
| | |and so vigorous as to
| | |over-run the garden in
| | |course of years. The
| | |varieties are more planted
| | |than the type, as they are
| | |handsomer. The most
| | |distinct are Bertini
| | |(latifolia),
| | |camelliaefolia, caucasica,
| | |rotundifolia, and
| | |schipkaensis; the last
| | |mentioned is about the
| | |hardiest.
| | |
*P. lusitanica |Spain and |White |A popular evergreen. There
(Portugal Laurel) |Portugal | |are four
| | |varieties--azorica, which
| | |is very tender; coriacea;
| | |myrtifolia, small narrow
| | |leaves, and bears clipping
| | |well. P. ilicifolia is the
| | |only plant that need be
| | |raised from seed. The
| | |Cherry and Portugal
| | |Laurels, with their
| | |varieties, are usually
| | |propagated by cuttings,
| | |ripened wood of almost any
| | |size being cut into pieces
| | |8 inches or so in length,
| | |and inserted nearly their
| | |full length in the ground.
| | |This can be done from the
| | |time the wood is ripe
| | |enough until the end of the
| | |year. Practically every
| | |cutting will root and make
| | |sturdy plants in a
| | |twelvemonth. The Portugal
| | |Laurel is also largely
| | |raised from seeds, which
| | |are gathered when ripe and
| | |sown immediately without
| | |any preliminary cleaning.
| | |If kept in sand until the
| | |following spring, they
| | |begin to grow before the
| | |season is sufficiently
| | |advanced to sow them, and
| | |if dried, nearly a year is
| | |lost before they germinate.
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------

-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| COUNTRY OR | COLOUR |
NAME | ORIGIN AND | AND | GENERAL REMARKS.
| NATURAL ORDER. | SEASON. |
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| | |
Pyrus |Rosaceae | |An important and beautiful
| | |genus, as it includes the
| | |Pears, Apples, and Quinces
| | |of the hardy fruit garden,
| | |and such trees as the
| | |Flowering Crabs, the White
| | |Beam tree, Mountain Ash,
| | |and Pyrus japonica. It is
| | |divided into seven
| | |sections, viz., Pyrophorum,
| | |which includes the true
| | |pears; Malus, the Wild Crab
| | |apples, parents of many
| | |garden forms; Aria, of
| | |which the White Beam tree
| | |is a good type; Sorbus, in
| | |which is found the Mountain
| | |Ash; Adenorachis, which
| | |only contains the North
| | |American species, Cydonia,
| | |the Quinces, and Mespilus,
| | |with which is placed the
| | |Medlar. These are found
| | |practically throughout the
| | |northern temperate zone,
| | |under varying conditions,
| | |and with one or two
| | |unimportant exceptions, are
| | |all hardy in this country.
| | |The majority of the Pyrus
| | |are trees of considerable
| | |size. A few are small
| | |trees, and about half a
| | |dozen are low-growing and
| | |dense shrubs. All are
| | |deciduous, and will grow in
| | |ordinary garden soil, but
| | |none of them like a cold
| | |and moist soil and
| | |position. Ground that will
| | |grow Apples and Pears well
| | |will suit the Pyruses,
| | |though they will thrive in
| | |considerably poorer soil
| | |than is recommended for
| | |fruit culture. In planting,
| | |the ground should be deeply
| | |trenched, and the bottom
| | |well broken up, any clay or
| | |gravel that is encountered
| | |being thrown out and
| | |replaced with good soil.
| | |Most of the Pyrus root
| | |deeply, and if the soil is
| | |not properly prepared in
| | |the first place they are
| | |apt to fail and get
| | |cankered. Propagation is
| | |done by seeds, budding, or
| | |grafting, and in a few
| | |cases by suckers. The best
| | |ways are given with each
| | |section.
| | |
PYROPHORUM | | |
GROUP (the True | | |
Pears). | | |
| | |
P. betulaefolia |China and Japan |White; |A small and pretty tree, 15
| |early |feet to 20 feet high, with
| |Spring |leaves somewhat like those
| | |of a Birch in shape, though
| | |rather larger. They are on
| | |long petioles, and have a
| | |pleasing sound when ruffled
| | |by the wind. It does not
| | |flower or fruit much until
| | |well established. The white
| | |flowers are in dense
| | |clusters and appear before
| | |the leaves.
| | |
*P. communis (the |Europe and Asia |White; |As this is widely
Wild Pear) | |Spring |distributed it varies
| | |greatly. The type is more
| | |interesting for its flowers
| | |than for its fruit, which
| | |is hard, gritty, and dry.
| | |It grows 30 to 40 feet
| | |high, and has long
| | |spreading branches, half
| | |pendulous. When the tree is
| | |covered with its white
| | |flowers the effect is very
| | |beautiful. There are
| | |several named varieties,
| | |the best being flore-pleno,
| | |with semi-double flowers;
| | |linearis, with long, narrow
| | |leaves, and pendula,
| | |described by the name.
| | |
P. nivalis |Eastern Europe |White; |A small spreading tree
| |Spring |which flowers in great
| | |abundance; the fruits are
| | |plentifully produced, and
| | |are nearly globular in
| | |shape, and of fairly good
| | |flavour, but dry. The habit
| | |of the tree and shape and
| | |flavour of the fruit
| | |suggest some of the garden
| | |pears. There is a variety
| | |with leaves variegated with
| | |white.
| | |
P. sinaica |Asia Minor |White; |This is one of the few
| |April |species worth growing for
| | |their leaves alone, for
| | |during Spring and Summer it
| | |is quite silvery. Although
| | |about 20 feet high in its
| | |native country, it makes
| | |here, as a rule, a small
| | |bushy stunted tree.
| | |
*P. salicifolia |Levant | |A beautiful tree, about 15
(Willow-leaved | | |feet high, and delightful
Pear) | | |to make groups of for the
| | |sake of its long and narrow
| | |silvery-white leaves. There
| | |is a creeping variety of
| | |it. The flowers are white,
| | |and the fruits small and
| | |woody, neither of much
| | |account. It is the effect
| | |of the foliage that we must
| | |consider, which is very
| | |charming when waving in the
| | |wind. A good tree for
| | |grouping and for small
| | |gardens, and this remark
| | |applies also to the weeping
| | |form. The Pyrophorum group
| | |will come true from seed,
| | |which is the best way of
| | |propagating them. If not
| | |from seeds they can be
| | |worked on stocks of the
| | |Wild Pear, on which they do
| | |fairly well, though much
| | |better on their own roots.
| | |There are other species in
| | |this section, such as P.
| | |auricularis, P. Michauxi,
| | |P. parviflora, P. Pashia,
| | |and P. sinensis, but the
| | |above are the most
| | |important.
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------

-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| COUNTRY OR | COLOUR |
NAME. | ORIGIN AND | AND | GENERAL REMARKS.
| NATURAL ORDER. | SEASON. |
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| | |
MALUS GROUP (the | | |
Apples). | | |
| | |
*P. baccata |Himalaya to |Rose pink;|A well-known tree, very
(Siberian Crab) |Japan |May |beautiful on the lawn. It
| | |grows 20 feet to 30 feet
| | |high, and as much or more
| | |in diameter, and the
| | |flowers smother every
| | |branch, followed by a
| | |glorious display of
| | |brilliant scarlet fruits,
| | |which are esteemed by some
| | |when preserved. There are
| | |several varieties, of which
| | |three may be mentioned,
| | |Bertini, which is of rather
| | |more upright growth than
| | |the type, and has large
| | |white flowers and scarlet
| | |fruits; and Genuina, which
| | |differs from the type in
| | |its more open growth and
| | |larger fruits. Xanthocarpa
| | |has bright golden fruits.
| | |
*P. coronaria |Eastern United |Rose; |A beautiful and neglected
(American or |States. |May and |tree, 15 feet to 20 feet
Fragrant Crab) |Introduced 1724 |early June|high, with large,
| | |deliciously-fragrant
| | |flowers. It is worth
| | |growing on this account
| | |alone. The leaves are
| | |dark-green and lobed, and
| | |the fruits sweetly scented
| | |and grass-green, not very
| | |ornamental. It should
| | |become more popular in
| | |English gardens. The
| | |variety flore-pleno has
| | |large, almost double, rich
| | |rose-coloured flowers.
| | |
*P. floribunda |Japan |Rose; |A delightful tree and
| |late |happily much planted in
| |Spring and|gardens. It is quite small,
| |early |little more than a graceful
| |Summer |bush, rarely exceeding a
| | |height of 10 feet, wreathed
| | |in flowers in the
| | |appropriate season, the
| | |buds intense crimson, but
| | |opening out a paler shade,
| | |and thus there is a
| | |gradation from one colour
| | |to the other. It should be
| | |freely grouped and planted
| | |in small and large gardens.
| | |The fruits are yellow, and
| | |about the size of a pea.
| | |There are two good
| | |varieties, Atrosanguinea,
| | |which has flowers of much
| | |deeper colour than those of
| | |the type, and flore-pleno
| | |or Malus Parkmanni, as it
| | |is more often called. This
| | |has semi-double red
| | |flowers, and reddish wood
| | |and leaves.
| | |
P. Malus (Crab |Britain; |White; |This is the Crab Apple of
Apple) |Europe and Asia |late |the hedgerow, and although
| |Spring |not very ornamental, three
| | |varieties of it deserve
| | |notice. These are
| | |*coccinea, which has large
| | |scarlet fruits in
| | |abundance;
| | |flore-albo-pleno, with
| | |large semi-double, pure
| | |white flowers, and
| | |Neidzwetzkyanus, a very
| | |handsome form with
| | |purple-tinted leaves and
| | |fruit. But no tree can
| | |become popular with such a
| | |name. We hope it will be
| | |changed. Pendula is welcome
| | |for its drooping growth.
| | |
P. prunifolia |Siberia |Rose; |This much resembles P.
| |late |baccata, and has many
| |Spring |varieties, one of them
| | |named pendula being a
| | |beautiful weeping tree.
| | |
P. Ringo |Japan |Late |A small tree about 20 feet
| |Spring |high, with rather long
| | |spreading branches, and
| | |large flower trusses
| | |followed by bright yellow
| | |fruits. These are sometimes
| | |borne so abundantly that
| | |the branches get weighed
| | |down.
| | |
*P. Schiedeckeri |Supposed hybrid |Soft rose;|This hybrid has for its
|(P. spectabilis,|May |near allies such popular
|*P. Toringo) | |and beautiful plants as
| | |Pyrus floribunda, P.
| | |spectabilis, P. baccata
| | |(Siberian Crab), &c.; yet
| | |it is not inferior in
| | |beauty to any of them. It
| | |is only in recent years
| | |that it has been in
| | |commerce. It has not, of
| | |course, reached its full
| | |size yet in this country,
| | |but it is evidently going
| | |to be a small tree. It is
| | |nearly related to P.
| | |floribunda, but gives every
| | |indication of possessing a
| | |more tree-like character,
| | |its branches being sturdier
| | |and more erect in growth.
| | |But it is for its wealth of
| | |blossom that it is chiefly
| | |remarkable. Even among such
| | |profuse-flowering things as
| | |those of its allies
| | |mentioned above, it is
| | |noteworthy for its
| | |qualities in that respect.
| | |During May, its flowering
| | |season, clean branches 3
| | |feet and even 4 feet long
| | |can be cut, which are
| | |wreathed from end to end
| | |with blossom. The flowers
| | |are semi-double and come in
| | |the usual Apple-like
| | |clusters; each flower is
| | |about 1-1/2 inches across.
| | |
*P. spectabilis |China and Japan |Pink; |A beautiful and fairly well
(Chinese Crab) | |Spring |known tree, 20 feet to 30
| | |feet high, with large
| | |semi-double flowers of much
| | |charm; the fruits are
| | |bright red. Every garden
| | |should possess a group of
| | |it, and at least a single
| | |specimen standing out by
| | |itself, unfettered by trees
| | |or shrubs near. There are
| | |three varieties of note:
| | |flore-pleno-albo, with
| | |white flowers; flore-pleno;
| | |and Kaido, which is a very
| | |charming tree, upright in
| | |growth, and with rose-pink
| | |flowers and yellowish-red
| | |fruits. These trees of the
| | |Malus section are usually
| | |propagated by being budded
| | |or grafted on stocks of the
| | |Common Crab. If any of them
| | |are growing singly away
| | |from other species, then
| | |seeds from them will come
| | |true to name, but where
| | |various species are growing
| | |together they become
| | |crossed when in flower, and
| | |the seedlings result in a
| | |variety of hybrids, few or
| | |none of which are of any
| | |value. But as all of them
| | |succeed very well when
| | |worked on Stocks of the
| | |Common Crab, this is
| | |probably the better way to
| | |propagate them.
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------

-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| COUNTRY OR | COLOUR |
NAME. | ORIGIN AND | AND | GENERAL REMARKS.
| NATURAL ORDER. | SEASON. |
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| | |
ARIA GROUP (White |...... |...... |A very distinct group.
Beam trees) | | |
| | |
P. Aria (Common |North Temperate |White |A well-known tree,
White Beam tree) |Zone | |frequently seen in chalky
| | |districts. It is a large
| | |tree, 40 to 50 feet high,
| | |and has oval leaves, which
| | |are silvery white on the
| | |under surface. The white
| | |flowers are borne in large
| | |clusters, followed by oval
| | |red or scarlet coloured
| | |fruits. There are several
| | |varieties. Lutescens is
| | |very handsome, with its
| | |broad and silvery leaves;
| | |chrysophylla has leaves of
| | |quite a golden hue; graeca
| | |is a handsome form found in
| | |Greece, it is much later in
| | |flowering and fruiting than
| | |any of the others;
| | |salicifolia has striking
| | |leaves, quite silvery white
| | |underneath.
| | |
P. decaisneana |Origin unknown; |...... |A handsome vigorous tree,
|presumably a | |with oval leaves, 6 inches
|hybrid | |long by 2 to 3 inches
| | |broad, silvery beneath. The
| | |pinkish flowers are on
| | |large dense corymbs,
| | |followed by bright scarlet
| | |fruits. A tree well worth
| | |growing.
| | |
*P. lanata |Himalaya |White |This is better known under
| | |its garden name of Sorbus
| | |majestica, and is perhaps
| | |the most beautiful of this
| | |section of Pyrus. It is an
| | |upright-growing tree, 30
| | |feet to 40 feet high, with
| | |large serrated leaves,
| | |covered beneath with a
| | |dense silvery tomentum. The
| | |flowers are succeeded by
| | |corymbs of intense scarlet
| | |fruit. P. pinnatifida is
| | |also of note for its
| | |silvery leaves.
| | |
P. vestita |Northern India |White |Thoroughly hardy in this
| | |country, and a handsome
| | |tree, met with commonly
| | |under the names of P.
| | |Thomsoni and Sorbus
| | |magnifica. It has large
| | |oval silvery leaves, and is
| | |worth growing for this
| | |reason alone. The white
| | |flowers and scarlet fruit
| | |are an additional charm.
| | |The above are all best
| | |propagated from seeds,
| | |which are freely produced,
| | |and come true to name, with
| | |the exceptions of P. alpina
| | |and P. decaisneana, which,
| | |being hybrids, cannot be
| | |depended on. These two, and
| | |the varieties of P. Aria,
| | |are best worked on stocks
| | |of P. Aria, on which they
| | |succeed very well as a
| | |rule, care being taken to
| | |choose clean, vigorous
| | |stocks with straight stems.
| | |
SORBUS GROUP. | | |
| | |
P. americana |North America |White |This is the American
| | |Mountain Ash, and is not a
| | |great success in this
| | |country. It is of smaller
| | |growth than our Mountain
| | |Ash, and has pinnate leaves
| | |and clusters of red fruit,
| | |which, like those of most
| | |of the Pyruses, are much
| | |liked by birds. There are
| | |several varieties.
| | |
*P. Aucuparia |Native |White; |This adds a brilliant note
(Mountain Ash or | |Spring |of colour to the garden
Rowan tree) | | |landscape in Autumn, and is
| | |the glory of many a Scotch
| | |and Welsh ravine. In the
| | |north the berries are very
| | |rich. There are many
| | |varieties; the best are
| | |asplenifolia, a very
| | |handsome tree, with finer
| | |leaves and more deeply
| | |serrated leaflets than
| | |those of the type; dulcis,
| | |a handsome, vigorous
| | |variety, with bold foliage
| | |and larger fruits than
| | |those of any of the other
| | |Mountain Ashes. Fastigiata
| | |has somewhat the habit of
| | |the Lombardy Poplar; fructu
| | |luteo has bright yellow or
| | |orange fruits, which are
| | |freely borne and very
| | |showy; pendula is a weeping
| | |form with branches that
| | |sweep the ground.
| | |
P. lanuginosa |Eastern Europe |Dull white|This is a showy tree, 30
| | |feet to 40 feet high, with
| | |pinnate leaves, woolly on
| | |both surfaces. The fruits
| | |are red.
| | |
*P. sorbus |Native |White |This is more commonly known
(Service tree) | | |under the names of P.
| | |domestica or Sorbus
| | |domestica, and is like the
| | |Mountain Ash in leaf,
| | |though more spreading in
| | |growth. The flowers are
| | |succeeded by green fruits
| | |about the same size as
| | |those of a Crab Apple.
| | |There are two forms, viz.,
| | |maliformis, with
| | |apple-shaped fruits, and
| | |pyriformis, with fruits
| | |shaped like those of a
| | |pear.
| | |
P. thianschanica |Eastern Asia |White |This is a comparatively new
| | |introduction, but a
| | |valuable tree. It has
| | |reddish-coloured shining
| | |wood and pinnate glossy
| | |leaves, with pointed and
| | |serrated leaflets. The
| | |fruits are small and
| | |scarlet. The above can, and
| | |should, be propagated from
| | |seeds, which germinate
| | |readily, and the seedlings
| | |soon form strong plants.
| | |The varieties of the
| | |Mountain Ash should be
| | |worked on that species,
| | |and, if absolutely
| | |necessary, most of the
| | |other species can be
| | |increased in the same
| | |manner and on the same
| | |stock. We have seen P.
| | |lanuginosa worked on a
| | |Hawthorn stock, on which it
| | |succeeded very well, but
| | |should not recommend the
| | |Hawthorn as a stock for any
| | |of the Pyruses.
| | |
ADENORACHIS | | |Not a very important group,
GROUP. | | |containing two species, P.
| | |arbutifolia and P. nigra.
| | |Both are easily raised from
| | |seeds, but the quicker way
| | |is to detach suckers.
| | |
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| COUNTRY OR | COLOUR |
NAME. | ORIGIN AND | AND | GENERAL REMARKS.
| NATURAL ORDER. | SEASON. |
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| | |
CYDONIA | | |
(the Quinces) | | |
| | |
P. cathayensis |China |Rosy red; |Best on a wall as at Kew.
| |late |Bolder in growth than P.
| |Spring, |japonica, but not so hardy.
| |early |Very handsome on a wall.
| |Summer |
| | |
*P. Cydonia (Syn. |Unknown |Flesh |The Quince is for the
Cydonia vulgaris) | | |garden orchard. "How seldom
| | |does one see Quinces
| | |planted for ornament, and
| | |yet there is hardly any
| | |small tree that better
| | |deserves such treatment.
| | |Some Quinces planted about
| | |eight years ago are now
| | |perfect pictures; their
| | |lissome branches, borne
| | |down with the load of great
| | |deep-yellow fruit, and
| | |their leaves turning to a
| | |colour almost as rich and
| | |glowing. The old English
| | |rather round-fruited kind
| | |with the smooth skin is the
| | |best both for flavour and
| | |beauty--a mature tree
| | |without leaves in winter,
| | |has a remarkably graceful,
| | |arching, almost weeping
| | |growth. The other kind is
| | |of a rather more rigid
| | |form, and though its
| | |woolly-coated, pear-shaped
| | |fruits are larger and
| | |strikingly handsome, the
| | |whole tree has a coarse
| | |look, and just lacks the
| | |attractive grace of the
| | |other. They will do fairly
| | |well almost anywhere,
| | |though they prefer a rich
| | |loamy soil, and a cool,
| | |damp, or even swampy
| | |place."--_Wood and Garden_,
| | |p. 128.
| | |
*P. japonica |China and Japan |Scarlet; |A beautiful shrub, one of
| |April, |the most valuable
| |earlier in|introductions that we have
| |some |ever had from China and
| |gardens |Japan. It is the "japonica"
| | |of many a cottage and
| | |villa wall, and in
| | |sheltered warm gardens
| | |begins to bloom before
| | |winter has gone, a bright,
| | |cheery, and welcome shrub
| | |indeed in border or on
| | |wall. It is so well known
| | |that a description is
| | |almost needless, but there
| | |are several varieties, with
| | |considerable range of
| | |colour, from white to
| | |scarlet. We give the six
| | |from the Kew list:
| | |candicans, white;
| | |luteo-viridis, yellow;
| | |Moerloesi, crimson;
| | |nivalis, white; sulphurea
| | |perfecta and versicolor
| | |lutescens, both yellowish.
| | |All the varieties are good,
| | |especially Knap-Hill
| | |scarlet, which is a
| | |brilliant scarlet,
| | |delightful in a group; it
| | |is a most valuable shrub.
| | |Sinica has very showy deep
| | |red flowers.
| | |
*P. Maulei |Japan |Orange |A charming shrub, dwarfer
| |scarlet; |than P. japonica; the
| |May |fruits are yellow, and have
| | |a pleasant aromatic odour,
| | |and, like those of P.
| | |japonica, make an excellent
| | |preserve. Superba is a
| | |variety or rather reputed
| | |hybrid between P. Maulei
| | |and P. japonica, and has
| | |deep scarlet flowers.
| | |
| | |The Quince can be
| | |propagated by seeds, by
| | |cuttings, or by layers.
| | |Cuttings of well-ripened
| | |wood about 9 inches long
| | |should be taken in autumn
| | |and inserted 6 inches in
| | |the ground, when they soon
| | |form roots and make sturdy
| | |plants. P. japonica and P.
| | |Maulei can be increased by
| | |seeds, by suckers, or by
| | |root-cuttings. Suckers are
| | |freely produced by old
| | |plants, and can easily be
| | |detached, so that this
| | |method is the easiest means
| | |of propagating them.
| | |
MESPILUS GROUP. | | |
| | |
*P. germanica |Europe and Asia |Pure |A small tree for the
(the Medlar) (Syn. | |white; |garden, orchard, or
Mespilus vulgaris) | |early |woodland. It is handsome in
| |Summer |leaf and growth, a dense
| | |spreading tree, with fruits
| | |of acceptable flavour when
| | |eaten at the right stage.
| | |
*P. lobata (M. |Unknown; |White |A very handsome but
Smithi; M. |probably a | |neglected tree, about 20
grandiflora) |hybrid | |feet high, with dark-green
| | |leaves and snow-white
| | |flowers, rather smaller
| | |than those of the common
| | |Medlar; it has small
| | |pear-shaped reddish fruits,
| | |and is a good lawn tree.
| | |
| | |These trees are best
| | |propagated by grafting or
| | |budding on the Pear or
| | |Quince stocks, on which
| | |they do well. The Medlar
| | |can also be increased by
| | |seed.
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