Chapter XLI: Some Hardy Flowering Trees and Shrubs (6)

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| COUNTRY OR | COLOUR |
NAME. | ORIGIN AND | AND | GENERAL REMARKS.
| NATURAL ORDER. | SEASON. |
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| | |
GRIFFITHIANUM | | |
GROUP. | | |
| | |
*R. Aucklandi |Himalaya |White; |The group, in which the
| |May |Himalayan species
| | |griffithianum, better known
| | |as R. Aucklandi, is most
| | |marked, is composed of a
| | |number of large-flowered
| | |hybrids which vary
| | |considerably in size of
| | |flower and colouring. It is
| | |probably the finest species
| | |of Rhododendron in
| | |existence, and named in
| | |honour of Lord Auckland, a
| | |Governor-General of India,
| | |by Sir Joseph Hooker. It
| | |appears, however, to have
| | |previously been named after
| | |Griffith, the Indian
| | |botanist, whose name it
| | |ought now properly to bear.
| | |It carries its flowers in
| | |large, loose trusses, and
| | |individually they are
| | |frequently 6 inches across.
| | |This Rhododendron, we
| | |believe, ranks first in the
| | |genus in regard to the size
| | |of its bloom. Six or eight
| | |of these are borne in a
| | |truss, and they are pure
| | |white when once fully
| | |expanded, although pink in
| | |the bud state. The handsome
| | |leaves are smooth,
| | |narrow-oblong, 6 inches to
| | |12 inches long, and of a
| | |deep lustrous green. When
| | |fully grown this becomes a
| | |small tree, the bark
| | |peeling from the trunk in
| | |large flakes. It is not,
| | |unfortunately, one of the
| | |Himalayan species that can
| | |be grown out of doors near
| | |London. In Cornwall and
| | |similar places it is
| | |magnificent. It only just
| | |escapes being hardy, and
| | |can be grown out of doors
| | |in tubs for the greater
| | |part of the year. Some of
| | |the best specimens in the
| | |country have, in fact, been
| | |grown in this way. Even
| | |when placed under glass
| | |little or no fire-heat is
| | |needed. We know plants that
| | |have stood 18 deg. of frost
| | |without injury. It is
| | |remarkable that this
| | |Rhododendron has not been
| | |used more for hybridising.
| | |Most people seem to have
| | |been slow in awakening to
| | |its value, and although, at
| | |the present time, there are
| | |doubtless thousands of
| | |young hybrids from it in
| | |existence, it will be some
| | |years before they flower.
| | |There are, however, a few
| | |hybrids that are hardy and
| | |very beautiful.
| | |
*R. kewense |A hybrid between|Delicate |This was raised at Kew in
|R. griffithianum|rose, |1875, but did not flower
|and R. Aucklandi|passing to|until fourteen years later.
| |white with|Since then it has flowered
| |age; |very freely every year. It
| |April and |makes a large bush 6 to 8
| |May |feet high, spreading, and
| | |with leaves resembling
| | |those of R. griffithianum,
| | |and the flowers as regards
| | |shape and size being also
| | |similar, whilst they are
| | |very sweetly scented. In
| | |addition to the true
| | |Kewense, there is a form in
| | |cultivation with red
| | |flowers. The bracts are
| | |light red. Kewense is a
| | |hybrid of charming
| | |colouring--so many shades
| | |of rose and deeper-tinted
| | |buds.
| | |
*R. Manglesii |Hybrid sent out |White, the|This is a very beautiful
|about 1880 by |upper |hybrid, popular, and very
|Messrs. Veitch &|petal |free. Although the leaves
|Sons, and the |spotted |are smaller, this
|outcome of |with red |Rhododendron--named after
|crossing R. |or reddish|one whose interest in the
|griffithianum |brown; |race was intense--resembles
|with the |April and |the Himalayan parent when
|catawbiense |May |not in bloom, but the
|hybrid album | |influence of the American
|elegans | |parent is seen in the
| | |flowers, which are about 4
| | |inches across. A
| | |peculiarity of the
| | |inflorescence is the long
| | |truss. There are several
| | |forms, that only differ
| | |slightly in size or density
| | |of the spotting from the
| | |type.
| | |
*R. Pink Pearl |Raised by |Delicate |This beautiful Rhododendron
|Messrs. J. |pink; |has rapidly become popular.
|Waterer & Sons |May |The leaves and size of
|of Bagshot | |flowers point to the
| | |griffithianum influence.
| | |The flower truss is very
| | |large, well formed, and the
| | |individual flowers 4 to 5
| | |inches across.
| | |
| | |No doubt new hybrids with
| | |R. griffithianum influence
| | |will be constantly
| | |occurring, but raisers must
| | |remember that hardy growth
| | |is of the greatest
| | |importance. R.
| | |griffithianum has been much
| | |used by Mr. Mangles as a
| | |parent, in whose garden
| | |there are many beautiful
| | |hybrids, such as Liza
| | |Stillman, Dulcie Daffan,
| | |Manglesii var. delicatum,
| | |Daphne Daffan, Mrs.
| | |Mallard, and others.
| | |
FORTUNEI GROUP. | | |
| | |
R. Fortunei |China |White with|This species, when not in
| |deep pink |flower, bears a strong
| |suffusion,|likeness to R.
| |and very |griffithianum, but the
| |fragrant; |flowers are very distinct,
| |May and |about 3 inches across, and
| |early June|very fragrant, whilst each
| | |one has seven petals. The
| | |hybrids are of good habit,
| | |flower with great freedom,
| | |are very fragrant, and each
| | |bloom frequently has six
| | |petals, whilst the stamens
| | |are often imperfect. The
| | |group displays a wide range
| | |of colouring, pink and deep
| | |rose predominating, but a
| | |few are red, and many are
| | |prettily spotted or
| | |blotched with red or
| | |chocolate. We hope this
| | |group will be better known,
| | |as many of the hybrids are
| | |very charming, a few having
| | |names; thus those raised at
| | |Kew were named respectively
| | |Mrs. Thiselton-Dyer and
| | |George Thiselton-Dyer. They
| | |bloom profusely, the
| | |flowers being very deep
| | |rose with dust-brownish
| | |blotches at the base; the
| | |chief difference is that
| | |the flowers of the former
| | |are paler than those of the
| | |latter. An interesting
| | |hybrid raised at Kew by
| | |crossing R. Fortunei with
| | |the variety Meteor has
| | |flowered well for the last
| | |four years. The cross was
| | |made in 1893, and the
| | |plants flowered when only a
| | |few inches high. Several
| | |plants have now grown to a
| | |height of 2-1/2 feet. The
| | |flowers are in compact,
| | |rounded trusses, and appear
| | |in May; they are delicate
| | |pink, and fragrant. The
| | |great peculiarity of the
| | |hybrid is that no plant has
| | |perfect stamens, some being
| | |full size but barren,
| | |others reduced to mere
| | |specks, and occasionally
| | |they are quite absent.
| | |
R. Smirnowi |Native of |Bright |This is a handsome species,
|Caucasus. |rosy- |of compact growth, and 3
|Flowered for the|lilac; |feet to 6 feet high, with
|first time in |April and |large, deep-green leaves,
|England at Kew |May |covered on the underside
|in 1893 | |with quite a dense,
| | |whitish, wool-like
| | |substance. The flowers are
| | |from 2-1/2 inches to 3
| | |inches across, and in
| | |shapely trusses. Both at
| | |Kew and in the nursery of
| | |Mr. George Paul many
| | |hybrids have been raised.
| | |The first raised at Kew
| | |resulted from crossing the
| | |species with the
| | |scarlet-flowered garden
| | |hybrid Johnsoni in 1893. It
| | |flowered when four years
| | |old, and was of dwarf
| | |growth, with rosy-red
| | |flower. Of numerous other
| | |hybrids raised since then
| | |three resulted from
| | |crosses made in May 1896;
| | |they flowered in May 1902,
| | |and are so far the best.
| | |One of these was raised by
| | |crossing with the variety
| | |purpureum splendens; this
| | |has trusses of purplish
| | |flowers. Another claims R.
| | |Fortunei as its male
| | |parent; it has large
| | |fragrant flowers with five
| | |or six petals, pink, and
| | |arranged in shapely
| | |trusses. In the third case
| | |kewense was selected as the
| | |male, and this is the
| | |prettiest of the three; the
| | |flowers are on long stalks,
| | |droop, and have daintily
| | |fringed petals; they are
| | |fragrant, rose colour,
| | |mottled with dark spots in
| | |the throat. The somewhat
| | |drooping character of the
| | |flowers is not an
| | |advantage.
| | |
R. azaleoides |Cross between R.|White, |This grows about 3-1/2 feet
|(Azalea) |lilac- |high, and, as the parentage
|viscosum and |tinted |shows, is a cross between
|R. maximum |flowers; |the evergreen and deciduous
| |June |sections. It has been known
| | |under the names of
| | |hybridum, fragrans,
| | |odoratum. Quite hardy.
| | |
*R. Smithi aureum |This is not new,|Buff |This is a very beautiful
|but rare; it is |inclining |Rhododendron, dwarf, not
|supposed to have|to |very compact in growth, but
|been raised by a|apricot; |when its handsome flower
|nurseryman named|June |clusters are out the bush
|Smith of | |is almost smothered with
|Norbiton, | |bloom. At Saltwood, near
|between a | |Hythe, in a Rhododendron
|variety of R. | |glen Mr. Leney has several
|caucasicum and a| |plants of it. A
|yellow form of | |glaucous-leaved form is in
|R. sinense, and | |cultivation, but the
|is said to have | |flowers are not so rich in
|been exhibited | |colour as those of the
|at Chiswick in | |plainer leaved one. Quite
|1841 | |hardy.
| | |
R. roseum odoratum |Hybrid between |Reddish; |Quite hardy.
|the two |June |
|sections. One a | |
|white-flowered | |
|deciduous | |
|variety, and the| |
|other a | |
|red-flowered | |
|evergreen form | |
| | |
R. altaclarense |Result of |Bright |A very charming, bright
|crossing R. |scarlet |flowered hybrid.
|catawbiense and | |
|R. ponticum. | |
|Flowered first | |
|in 1835. Raised | |
|at Highclere | |
| | |
*R. praecox |A hybrid between|Rose- |This hybrid is quite hardy,
|R. ciliatum and |purple; |but must have a sheltered
|R. dauricum |late |spot, if not grown in a
| |February |cool house for the sake of
| |and early |its colour, as it blooms
| |March |early in Spring, and
| | |therefore is apt to get
| | |spoilt by frost and rain.
| | |It makes a bush about 3
| | |feet high, spreading, with
| | |a profusion of flowers,
| | |very rich in colour, but
| | |the variety rubrum is
| | |darker than the type.
| | |
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| COUNTRY OR | COLOUR |
NAME. | ORIGIN AND | AND | GENERAL REMARKS.
| NATURAL ORDER. | SEASON. |
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| | |
*R. (Azaleas) |...... |...... |For many years the hardy,
| | |deciduous Rhododendrons
| | |were known only as Azaleas,
| | |and in many places the name
| | |Azalea is still maintained.
| | |When the two
| | |sections--deciduous and
| | |evergreen--are compared it
| | |will be at once seen that
| | |there is no real structural
| | |difference between them.
| | |Although in the making of
| | |the two genera the number
| | |of stamens was considered
| | |one of the principal
| | |points, it has since been
| | |shown that it is a point
| | |unworthy of notice, as the
| | |number of stamens varies
| | |considerably in both
| | |deciduous and evergreen
| | |species. It is doubtful
| | |whether the name of Azalea
| | |will disappear, but we are
| | |following here the latest
| | |classification, and
| | |therefore place the
| | |"Azalea" in its proper
| | |group. About 20 species
| | |have been known under the
| | |name of Azalea, 3 or 4 of
| | |which are evergreen, and
| | |the remainder deciduous. Of
| | |these about half-a-dozen
| | |are really well known in
| | |gardens, either by the type
| | |plants, hybrids, or garden
| | |forms. The majority of the
| | |species belong to China and
| | |Japan and North America,
| | |one species being found in
| | |the Caucasus. Several of
| | |the North American species,
| | |such as R. arborescens,
| | |calendulaceum, nudiflorum,
| | |&c., the Chinese and
| | |Japanese species R. sinense
| | |(better known as Azalea
| | |mollis), and the Caucasian
| | |flavum (Syn. Azalea
| | |pontica), have proved
| | |splendid breeders, and in
| | |the hands of the hybridist
| | |a wonderful assortment of
| | |varieties has been
| | |obtained, which for
| | |delicate shades and rich
| | |self-colourings are
| | |unsurpassed among hardy
| | |shrubs. The colours range
| | |from white to pink and from
| | |pink to blood-red, from
| | |lemon to deep yellow and
| | |orange-scarlet, with all
| | |descriptions of intervening
| | |shades and combinations of
| | |colour. From R.
| | |calendulaceum most of the
| | |orange and orange-scarlet
| | |and red forms have
| | |originated; flavum has been
| | |responsible for many of the
| | |yellows and terra-cottas;
| | |arborescens, occidentale,
| | |and viscosum for the whites
| | |and pale rose varieties,
| | |also for the late flowering
| | |ones; while R. nudiflorum
| | |has been responsible for a
| | |great number of hybrids of
| | |all shades. As a rule it is
| | |much easier to trace R.
| | |sinense blood among hybrids
| | |than that of other species,
| | |the flowers in that case
| | |being larger and the leaves
| | |more closely resembling
| | |those of the species, but
| | |even in some of these
| | |repeated intercrossing has
| | |almost obliterated the
| | |special sinense characters.
| | |Many of these hybrids have
| | |been raised in the
| | |old-world city of Ghent, a
| | |fact which has given rise
| | |to the name "Ghent
| | |Azaleas." In England Mr.
| | |Anthony Waterer has raised
| | |beautiful forms at
| | |Knaphill, such as the pure
| | |white Mrs. Anthony Waterer.
| | |Few are named, however,
| | |nowadays, this brilliant
| | |group being called the
| | |"Knaphill," and it is rich
| | |in beautiful colours, from
| | |white through yellow,
| | |orange, buff, crimson,
| | |scarlet, and other flaming
| | |tones, which create
| | |glorious pictures in the
| | |garden in late Spring and
| | |early Summer. The shrubs
| | |should be planted in groups
| | |in woodland and elsewhere
| | |when the rich colouring of
| | |the flowers is most
| | |effective, and in Autumn
| | |the foliage turns to warm
| | |tints, crimson, brown,
| | |purple, and other shades
| | |intermingling, making the
| | |bushes almost as beautiful
| | |in their Autumn dress as
| | |when covered with flowers
| | |in Spring and early Summer.
| | |Of late years these
| | |Rhododendrons, especially
| | |the sinense group, have
| | |been much used for forcing,
| | |and they are extremely
| | |useful for that purpose, as
| | |has been so well
| | |demonstrated by the
| | |brilliant groups exhibited
| | |at various meetings of the
| | |Royal Horticultural Society
| | |by Messrs Cuthbert and
| | |other firms. When planting
| | |these hardy Azaleas, choose
| | |a sheltered position, not
| | |because they are tender,
| | |but to protect the flowers
| | |as much as possible from
| | |cold winds and late frosts.
| | |The majority of them are in
| | |bloom before the time of
| | |frosts has passed, and
| | |sometimes the flowers get
| | |destroyed wholesale. Few
| | |shrubs are more suitable
| | |for planting in woodland or
| | |on the fringe of walks in
| | |single groups, as here the
| | |colours are fully brought
| | |out. A peat soil or a
| | |mixture of loam and peat
| | |will provide quite suitable
| | |material. Mr. Anthony
| | |Waterer writes as follows:
| | |"In a general way all
| | |American plants may be said
| | |to delight in and to
| | |require what is called a
| | |peat soil; it was at one
| | |time believed they would
| | |not grow in any other.
| | |Experience, however, proves
| | |the contrary, and it is now
| | |found that Rhododendrons
| | |and Azaleas, which are the
| | |most important of that
| | |class, as well as any other
| | |of the more vigorous
| | |plants, succeed in almost
| | |any soil that does not
| | |contain lime or chalk. In
| | |many sandy loams they grow
| | |with as much luxuriance as
| | |they do in peat; in fact,
| | |almost any loamy soil, free
| | |from lime or chalk, may be
| | |rendered suitable for them
| | |by a liberal admixture of
| | |leaf mould or any fibrous
| | |material, such as parings
| | |of pasture lands. When the
| | |soil is poor, thoroughly
| | |decayed cow dung is one of
| | |the best manures for
| | |Azaleas." Seed pods should
| | |be picked off immediately
| | |the flowers are over.
| | |
R. arborescens |Found by Pursh, |White, |This has fragrant flowers,
(Syn. Azalea, |and described in|tinged |and grows about 9 feet in
arborescens) |1816 in his |with rose,|the British Isles.
|"Flora of North |the |
|America." It is |stamens |
|a native of the |scarlet; |
|mountainous |occasion- |
|regions from |ally the |
|Pennsylvania to |colour is |
|South Carolina |rose |
|and Tennessee, | |
|especially about| |
|the lower | |
|portions of the | |
|mountains of | |
|North Carolina, | |
|where it is said| |
|to grow along | |
|the borders of | |
|streams. It | |
|attains a height| |
|of from 15 feet | |
|to 20 feet | |
| | |
R. calendulaceum |Alleghany |Great |It forms a large, handsome
(A. calendulacea) |Forests. |range of |bush about 8 feet high, and
|Introduced about|colour; |is one of the most
|100 years ago |yellow, |beautiful of the species.
| |red, |
| |orange and|
| |other |
| |shades; |
| |May and |
| |June |
| | |
R. flavum (Syn. A. |Native of |Yellow, |Few Rhododendrons are
pontica) |Caucasus, and |fragrant; |better known; it grows from
|has been grown |early |6 feet to 8 feet, and has
|for upwards of a|Summer |fairly large shining
|century, viz., | |leaves. Excellent for
|introduced in | |forcing.
|1793 | |
| | |
R. indicum (A. |Widely |Various; |This is the plant regarded
indica) |distributed in |early |as the "common" Azalea. It
|the mountains of|Summer |has been improved
|China and Japan | |considerably under
| | |cultivation, and there are
| | |several beautiful garden
| | |forms of it. The majority
| | |of these are unfortunately
| | |not hardy, and a few only
| | |can be planted outside with
| | |safety. About ten years ago
| | |Professor Sargent, of the
| | |Arnold Arboretum, collected
| | |seeds of this type in the
| | |mountains of Japan. The
| | |young plants have proved
| | |fairly hardy, but flower,
| | |as a rule, too early to be
| | |of any great garden value.
| | |The well-known Azalea
| | |amoena is the hardiest of
| | |the varieties; it is easily
| | |recognised by its reddish
| | |hose-in-hose flowers.
| | |Balsaminaeflorum is dwarf,
| | |and suitable for the rock
| | |garden; it has pretty,
| | |double, rose-like salmon
| | |flowers. In many southern
| | |gardens R. indicum is
| | |hardy; we have seen borders
| | |of it in Mr. Leney's garden
| | |near Saltwood, Hythe, and
| | |of course in Devonshire and
| | |Cornwall.
| | |
R. ledifolium (A. |China and Japan |Pure |This reminds one of the old
ledifolia) | |white; |white A. indica of gardens,
| |March |but the leaves are more
| | |hairy, and it is hardier.
| | |It is like the preceding,
| | |and evergreen. It grows
| | |well out of doors in the
| | |Royal Gardens, Kew.
| | |
R. nudiflorum (A. |From Canada to |Pinkish as|An extremely useful shrub,
nudiflora) |Florida and |a rule; |and has been of
|Texas. On side |April and |considerable service to the
|of hills. |May |hybridist. It grows about 6
|Introduced in | |feet high, and makes a
|1734 | |wide-spreading bush. It
| | |bears pinkish-coloured
| | |flowers, though many hues
| | |are to be found among its
| | |many forms.
| | |
R. occidentale (A. |California |White; |This species flowers later
occidentalis) | |late June |than most of the others,
| | |and, through using it as a
| | |parent, hybrids have been
| | |produced between it and the
| | |earlier flowering species,
| | |thus the flowering period
| | |is prolonged. It makes a
| | |good-sized bush, and blooms
| | |freely; the flowers are
| | |fragrant; the leaves are
| | |very glossy.
| | |
R. rhombicum (A. |Japan |Rose- |This is easily
rhombica) | |lilac; |distinguished from other
| |April |Rhododendrons by its
| | |rhomboid leaves and large
| | |flowers. In the seedling
| | |stage it is somewhat
| | |tender, and until several
| | |years old its growth is not
| | |satisfactory.
| | |
A. Vaseyi |Mountains of |White |Of the lesser known species
|North Carolina |suffused |this is one of the most
| |pink; |beautiful, and should be in
| |April |every collection. It makes
| | |a small bush here, though
| | |in its native country it
| | |grows more than 15 feet
| | |high, and is quite hardy in
| | |the Thames Valley. Album is
| | |a white variety.
| | |
R. viscosum (A. |North America. |White and |This does not usually
viscosa) |In shady woods |sometimes |flower until most of the
|and swamps. |pink; July|others are over. It is
|Introduced in | |readily recognised by its
|1734 | |viscid leaves.
| | |
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| COUNTRY OR | COLOUR |
NAME. | ORIGIN AND | AND | GENERAL REMARKS.
| NATURAL ORDER. | SEASON. |
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| | |
*Rhodotypos |China and Japan;|White; |A very pretty shrub, 4 to 6
kerrioides |Rosaceae |May and |feet high, and bearing some
(White-flowered | |June |resemblance to the popular
Kerria) | | |Kerria japonica, hence it
| | |is often called the
| | |white-flowered Kerria,
| | |though it is really quite
| | |distinct. The white flowers
| | |are very much like those of
| | |a single Rose.
| | |
Ribes alpinum |Northern |Greenish |A beautiful group of
(Alpine currant) |Hemisphere; | |flowering shrubs. R.
|Saxifrageae | |alpinum is a dwarf bush 3
| | |feet high, and has a
| | |golden-leaved form, which
| | |in the Spring is one of the
| | |prettiest of shrubs with
| | |this leaf colouring.
| | |
R. americanum |North America |Greenish |Has little claim to beauty,
| | |except the vivid autumn
| | |tints of the decaying
| | |foliage.
| | |
*R. aureum | North America |Yellow; |A shrub 4 to 6 feet high,
(Missouri Currant) | |early May |with drooping clusters of
| | |golden-yellow blossoms. It
| | |forms a good companion to
| | |the flowering Currant,
| | |Ribes sanguineum.
| | |
*R. gordonianum |Garden hybrid |Yellow and|A hybrid between the
| |red |species immediately
| | |preceding and the flowering
| | |Currant; it is in all
| | |respects about intermediate
| | |between the two.
| | |
R. multiflorum |Carpathian |Yellowish |Grows 5 to 6 feet high, and
|Mountains |green |is remarkable for the long,
| | |pendulous and graceful
| | |racemes of small yellowish
| | |blossoms.
| | |
*R. sanguineum |Western North |Bright |A shrub 5 to 6 feet high,
(Flowering Currant)|America |rosy red; |with bright-coloured
| |April |flowers. A deservedly
| | |popular shrub of easy
| | |culture. There are numerous
| | |varieties, all beautiful,
| | |viz.: album, nearly white;
| | |atrosanguineum, very deep
| | |coloured; flore-pleno,
| | |with double flowers the
| | |last of all to bloom;
| | |glutinosum, pale rose;
| | |malvaceum, dense clusters
| | |of rosy-lilac flowers.
| | |
*R. speciosum |California |Deep |Shrub 6 to 8 feet, stems
(Fuchsia-flowered | |scarlet; |spiny, flowers very
Gooseberry), (Syn. | |April and |beautiful. A delightful
R. fuchsioides) | |May |wall plant, though quite
| | |hardy in south of England.
| | |
*Robinia hispida |South United |Purplish |From a flowering point of
(Rose Acacia), |States; |rose; June|view this is the finest of
(Syn. Robinia |Leguminosae | |all the Robinias. Though
rosea) | | |usually a small standard
| | |grafted on the common False
| | |Acacia, this is naturally a
| | |rambling shrub some 6 feet
| | |in height, with
| | |wide-spreading branches
| | |clothed with dark-green
| | |pinnate leaves, and about
| | |June the pendulous racemes
| | |of large snowy blossoms are
| | |at their best. In this
| | |species the stiff hairs
| | |that clothe the young
| | |shoots and flower stalks
| | |are very noticeable, but
| | |there is a variety
| | |(inermis) in which they are
| | |entirely absent.
| | |
*R. neo-mexicana |Colorado and New|Rose |A small tree related to the
|Mexico | |common False Acacia, but it
| | |differs from that
| | |well-known tree; the chief
| | |differences are--the
| | |glaucous green of its
| | |prettily divided leaves,
| | |the bright rose tint of its
| | |flowers, and the hairy
| | |flower stalks and seed
| | |pods. A beautiful
| | |autumn-flowering tree.
| | |
*R. Pseudacacia |North America |White; |One of the handsomest of
(Common Locust | |late May |all hardy trees; the
or False Acacia) | |and June |elegant pinnate foliage
| | |retained in all its
| | |freshness throughout the
| | |entire Summer, however hot
| | |and dry, renders it a
| | |delightful object during
| | |the whole of that time, and
| | |its beauty is considerably
| | |increased when the racemes
| | |of white flowers are fully
| | |open. In Winter, when bare,
| | |the deeply fissured bark,
| | |and its somewhat rugged
| | |aspect, are picturesque.
| | |There are many distinct
| | |varieties, chief among them
| | |being--aurea, in which the
| | |leaves are tinged with
| | |yellow; bella rosea, a
| | |smaller tree with
| | |rose-coloured flowers;
| | |bessoniana, a round-headed
| | |thornless form;
| | |decaisneana, with pretty
| | |rose-tinted blossoms;
| | |fastigiata, as upright as a
| | |Lombardy Poplar; inermis
| | |(Syn. umbraculifera), a
| | |mop-headed small tree;
| | |pendula, of weeping growth;
| | |and semperflorens, which
| | |continues to flower
| | |throughout the growing
| | |season.
| | |
R. viscosa (Clammy |North America |Pale rose;|A small tree, easily known
Locust Tree), | |June and |by the sticky glands that
Syn. R. glutinosa | |July |cover the new wood and
| | |leaf stalks. The leaves are
| | |larger than those of the
| | |others.
| | |
*Romneya Coulteri |California |White, |Few flowers are more
(Californian |(Papaveraceae) |with |beautiful than those of the
Poppy) | |golden |Californian Poppy. The
| |stamens; |flowers are so simple in
| |Summer |form and delicate in
| | |substance. At first sight
| | |they remind one of the
| | |finest white crepe, and
| | |flutter in the slightest
| | |breeze, their purity
| | |enhanced by the great
| | |golden boss of stamens from
| | |which they radiate. Many of
| | |the flowers are six inches
| | |and more in diameter, and
| | |when a dozen or more are
| | |open at one time, form a
| | |beautiful picture, whilst
| | |the fragrance is delicate.
| | |The plant, although
| | |flourishing in the
| | |south-west of England, is
| | |not absolutely safe there;
| | |several specimens were
| | |killed by the severe frost
| | |of a few winters ago. A
| | |certain amount of
| | |protection is desirable,
| | |but undue coddling often
| | |leads to the plant rotting
| | |to the root stock and so
| | |perishing. The Romneya is
| | |very impatient of root
| | |disturbance. When once
| | |established in the open
| | |ground, however, it grows
| | |strongly. The seeds take a
| | |long while to germinate.
| | |The plants may also be
| | |raised from root cuttings
| | |and layers. When growing in
| | |the rock-garden it often
| | |sends out shoots at some
| | |distance from the parent
| | |stem. Probably the best
| | |site for Romneya Coulteri
| | |is a sheltered one backed
| | |by a wall.
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------

-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| COUNTRY OR | COLOUR |
NAME. | ORIGIN AND | AND | GENERAL REMARKS.
| NATURAL ORDER. | SEASON. |
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| | |
Rubus bambusarum |Rosaceae |The |Henbane. Introduced by
| |flowers |Messrs. Veitch from China,
| |give place|the trailing branches 10
| |to a black|ft. to 12 ft.
| |edible |
| |fruit |
| | |
*R. biflorus |Himalaya; |White |This Bramble forms an
(White-stemmed |Rosaceae | |upright freely-branded
Bramble) | | |specimen, 10 ft. high, and
| | |has whitened stems, which,
| | |especially in winter, are
| | |very conspicuous.
| | |
*R. deliciosus |Rocky Mountains |White |A Currant-like, bushy
(Rocky Mountain | | |shrub, with large white
Bramble) | | |flowers (like single Roses)
| | |in great profusion. It is
| | |one of the finest flowering
| | |shrubs we have.
| | |
R. flagelliformis |Central China |White |Introduced by Messrs.
| | |Veitch. The flowers are on
| | |growths 6 ft. to 8 ft. in
| | |length. Partly evergreen. A
| | |useful climber.
| | |
*R. fruticosus |Garden form |Pink; late|A double pink form of our
flore-pleno (Double| |Summer |common Bramble, and of a
Pink Bramble), | | |loose rambling nature, soon
Syn. R. | | |forming a tangled mass.
bellidifolius. | | |
| | |
R. innominatus |Hupeh; |Interest- |Introduced by Messrs.
|Central China |ing for |Veitch, and is a great
| |its stems |addition to dessert fruits.
| |covered |
| |with a |
| |soft |
| |pubescence|
| |and large |
| |orange |
| |scarlet |
| |fruits, |
| |which are |
| |edible |
| | |
R. laciniatus |Garden origin |White |A strong-growing Bramble
(Cut-leaved | | |with elegantly cut leaves.
Bramble) | | |It is essentially a plant
| | |for the wild garden, while
| | |the fruits are particularly
| | |good.
| | |
R. nutkanus |North America |White |A free upright species that
(Nootka Sound | | |pushes up annual shoots
Raspberry) | | |like the Raspberry, while
| | |the lobed leaves are
| | |decidedly ornamental. The
| | |large white blossoms are
| | |borne in May and June.
| | |
R. odoratus |North America |Rosy |Somewhat like the last, but
(Purple-flowered | |purple |with rosy-purple blossoms
Raspberry) | | |that are rather later in
| | |expanding than those of R.
| | |nutkanus. It thrives best
| | |in partial shade.
| | |
*R. phoenicolasius |Japan |Whitish |A strong-growing
(Japanese Wine | | |Raspberry-like plant,
Berry) | | |densely clothed with hairs.
| | |It is principally
| | |grown for its fruits, that
| | |are, when ripe, of a bright
| | |red tint, and appreciated
| | |by many. But this is a
| | |picturesque spreading shrub
| | |worth growing for its
| | |colouring and rambling
| | |growth alone. It is a good
| | |bank shrub, or to spread
| | |about over the rougher
| | |parts of the rock garden.
| | |
R. spectabilis |North America |Purple; |A shrub so aggressive that
(Salmon Berry) | |early May |it must go into the wild
| | |garden. It forms a dense
| | |tuft 6 feet high, and when
| | |laden with its drooping
| | |purple flowers is decidedly
| | |ornamental.
| | |
R. thyrsoideus |Garden form |White |A semi-double
flore-pleno | | |white-flowered Bramble,
(Double White | | |less effective, however,
Bramble) | | |than the double pink.
| | |
Sophora japonica |China; |Creamy |Excluding the plants
|Leguminosae |white |formerly known as
| |panicles, |Edwardsia, now included in
| |which |Sophora, this is the only
| |show up |well-known member of the
| |against |genus, and it is the only
| |the |one of our large-growing
| |dark-green|hardy trees that flowers
| |foliage |in autumn. Regarded only
| | |from a foliage point of
| | |view, it forms a very
| | |handsome specimen, the
| | |elegant pinnate leaves
| | |retaining their deep green
| | |tint long after most trees
| | |acquire their autumnal hue.
| | |Like many other
| | |Leguminosae, the deep
| | |descending nature of its
| | |roots enables it to resist
| | |a long period of drought
| | |during the summer months
| | |better than most trees. It
| | |is very quick in growth,
| | |and is therefore valuable
| | |where rapid results are
| | |desired. The Sophora has
| | |been grown in this country
| | |for the last century and a
| | |half, and though in its
| | |early days considered to be
| | |rather tender, it has long
| | |proved to be thoroughly
| | |hardy. Varieties are not
| | |numerous, there being one,
| | |variegata, which is but a
| | |poor thing, while another,
| | |pendula, is one of the most
| | |striking of weeping trees.
| | |In winter the bright-green
| | |bark of this is a very
| | |noticeable feature.
| | |
Spartium junceum |Europe; |Golden |Owing to the
(Spanish Broom) |Leguminosae |yellow |deeply-descending nature of
| | |their roots, many of the
| | |Leguminosae resist drought
| | |better than the majority of
| | |shrubs. A case in point is
| | |furnished by the Spanish
| | |Broom, which in summer is
| | |laden with its large
| | |golden-yellow blossoms.
| | |Against a dark-tinted
| | |background it stands out
| | |conspicuously, while seen
| | |in a mass or clump it is
| | |particularly striking. The
| | |Spanish Broom ripens seeds
| | |freely, from which young
| | |plants can be readily
| | |raised, but as they make
| | |very few fibres and do not
| | |as a rule transplant well,
| | |they should be put into
| | |their permanent quarters
| | |while still young. The
| | |leaves are very few in
| | |number, their place being
| | |filled as in some of its
| | |allies by the young shoots,
| | |which are dark green and
| | |Rush-like. There is a
| | |double variety,
| | |flore-pleno.
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------

-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| COUNTRY OR | COLOUR |
NAME. | ORIGIN AND | AND | GENERAL REMARKS.
| NATURAL ORDER. | SEASON. |
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| | |
*Spiraea arguta |Garden origin; |White; |One of the best of the
|S. multiflora |late April|shrubby Spiraeas, forming a
|and S. Thunbergi| |dense bush about 4 feet
|(Rosaceae) | |high, which towards the end
| | |of April is profusely laden
| | |with clusters of pure white
| | |blossoms, despite frosts or
| | |cold winds, which play
| | |havoc with some of the
| | |early kinds.
| | |
S. bella |Nepaul |Deep pink;|A free-growing species, 5
| |May and |feet high, with pretty
| |June |flowers.
| | |
S. betulifolia |Europe |Clear |A dwarf bush, 2 feet high,
(Syn. S. splendens)| |cherry- |with pretty cherry-pink
| |pink; |flowers.
| |midsummer |
| | |
S. brachybotrys |Garden origin; |Pale pink;|A bold bush, 6 feet or more
(Syn. S. luxuriosa)|S. canescens and|June |in height.
|S. Douglasi | |
| | |
S. bracteata |Japan |White; |Grows 5 or 6 feet high.
| |May |
| | |
*S. bullata |Japan |Rosy |A dwarf species suitable
(Syn. S. | |carmine; |for rockwork.
crispifolia) | |July |
| | |
*S. canescens (Syn.|Himalaya |White; |The shoots of this are
S. flagelliformis, | |June and |slender and arching so that
Syn. S. nepalensis,| |July |it forms a graceful
Syn. S. | | |freely-branded shrub, some
rotundifolia) | | |5 to 8 feet in height. It
| | |is one of the best
| | |Spiraeas.
| | |
*S. discolor (Syn. |North-West |Creamy |A well-known shrub, far
S. ariaefolia) |America |white; |better known, however,
| |July |under the name of Spiraea
| | |ariaefolia. It reaches a
| | |height of 10 to 12 feet or
| | |even more, with plume-like
| | |clusters of creamy white
| | |blossoms. This is a shrub
| | |for the smallest garden.
| | |
*S. Douglasi |North America |Rosy red; |Forms a crowded cluster of
| |July and |erect shoots 6 feet or so
| |August |in height, with each shoot
| | |terminated by a dense spike
| | |of flowers. It succeeds
| | |best in damp soil.
| | |
S. hypericifolia |Europe |White |The slender arching shoots
| | |are clothed with clusters
| | |of pure white flowers in
| | |late May.
| | |
*S. japonica (Syn. |Japan |Rosy |Far better known under the
S. callosa) | |carmine; |name of S. callosa than
| |June and |that of japonica; it forms
| |July |a shrub 5 or 6 feet high
| | |with brightly coloured
| | |flowers in flattened
| | |clusters. There are many
| | |distinct varieties, all
| | |good, the best being alba,
| | |a dwarf form with white
| | |flowers; Bumalda, also
| | |dwarf with pink blossoms;
| | |Anthony Waterer, the
| | |richest tinted of all dwarf
| | |kinds; superba, a deep
| | |tinted form of the type;
| | |and glabrata, with
| | |curiously broad leaves.
| | |Anthony Waterer is
| | |especially worth growing.
| | |
*S. lindleyana |Himalaya |White; |Reaches a height of 10 to
| |August |12 feet, and is remarkable
| | |for its handsome pinnate
| | |leaves, while the large
| | |feathery flower panicles
| | |are very striking.
| | |
S. media (Syn S. |Europe |White; |Forms a dense rounded bush
confusa) | |May |from 5 to 8 feet high, and
| | |has clusters of pure white
| | |blossoms in profusion.
| | |
S. opulifolia (Nine|North America |Whitish |One of the largest of all
Bark of the United | | |the Spiraeas, being of
States), (Syn. | | |almost tree-like habit, but
Neillia opulifolia)| | |the flowers are not showy.
| | |There is a golden leaved
| | |form (aurea) of dwarfer
| | |habit than the type, which
| | |is in the first half of the
| | |season very pretty.
| | |
*S. prunifolia |Japan |White; |The flowers of this are
flore-pleno | |Spring |quite double, like little
| | |rosettes, and in clusters
| | |along the arching shoots.
| | |Early in April as a rule
| | |they are very pretty.
| | |
S. salicifolia |Europe |Pinkish |A variable kind, more or
| | |less approaching S.
| | |Douglasi, but with
| | |light-tinted flowers.
| | |
S. sorbifolia |Northern Europe |White; |A pinnate-leaved species
| |July |somewhat in the way of S.
| | |lindleyana, but it does not
| | |grow more than half the
| | |height and flowers a month
| | |earlier.
| | |
S. Thunbergi |Japan |White; |The first of all the
| |very early|Spiraeas to bloom, but its
| |Spring |beauty is often marred by
| | |inclement weather. It forms
| | |a dense mass of slender
| | |twigs clothed with tiny
| | |leaves.
| | |
S. Van Houttei |Garden form |White |A hybrid kind with pure
| | |white blossoms, which are
| | |as a rule more satisfactory
| | |under glass than in the
| | |open ground.
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------

-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| COUNTRY OR | COLOUR |
NAME. | ORIGIN AND | AND | GENERAL REMARKS.
| NATURAL ORDER. | SEASON. |
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------
| | |
Staphylea colchica |Caucasus; |White; |A sturdy upright deciduous
|Sapindaceae |Spring |shrub, 6 to 8 feet high,
| | |with drooping clusters of
| | |white flowers. Though
| | |decidedly ornamental it is
| | |as a rule more effective
| | |when flowered under glass
| | |than in the open ground.
| | |Needs a fairly moist loamy
| | |soil.
| | |
*S. pinnata |Europe |Greenish |A shrub from 8 to 10 feet
(European | |white; |high, which has
Bladder-Nut) | |Spring |bladder-like capsules in
| | |which the seeds are
| | |contained. The capsules are
| | |more attractive than the
| | |flowers themselves.
| | |
S. trifolia |North America |Greenish |In the way of the last, but
(American | |white; |a stronger grower, while
Bladder-Nut tree) | |Spring |the leaves are pinnate.
| | |
Stuartia pentagyna |United States; |White; |In its native country this
(Syn. |Ternstroemiaceae|July and |attains the dimensions of a
Malachodendron | |August |small tree, but in England
ovatum) | | |it is from 5 to 8 feet
| | |high. The flowers, somewhat
| | |suggestive of those of a
| | |single white Camellia, have
| | |the edges of the petals
| | |wavy, while the reddish
| | |stamens are very
| | |conspicuous. Though very
| | |beautiful, this is not a
| | |shrub for every garden, as
| | |it needs a cool moist soil
| | |with a fair proportion of
| | |peat, a remark that applies
| | |equally to the other
| | |members of the genus.
| | |
*S. |Japan |White; |The finest of the
Pseudo-Camellia | |with |Stuartias, bearing much
| |golden |general resemblance in
| |stamens; |foliage, flowers, and habit
| |July and |of growth to a Camellia,
| |August |hence its specific name.
| | |The flowers are about 3
| | |inches in diameter. Beside
| | |its other ornamental
| | |qualities the leaves die
| | |off in Autumn brilliantly
| | |tinted with crimson and
| | |gold, being in this
| | |respect much superior to
| | |its American relatives.
| | |
S. virginica (Syn. |Southern |White; |Much in the way of S.
Stuartia |United States |July and |pentagyna, but forms a
Malachodendron) | |August |smaller and less vigorous
| | |bush, while the leaves are
| | |more hairy.
| | |
*Styrax japonicum |China and Japan;|White; |A shrub or small tree with
(Japanese Storax) |Styraceae |Midsummer |flattened spreading
| | |branchlets, thickly studded
| | |on the undersides with
| | |drooping pure white
| | |fragrant Snowdrop-like
| | |blossoms. It is a
| | |delightful shrub, and best
| | |in a fairly moist light
| | |loam. Height 8 to 12 feet.
| | |Messrs. Veitch mention that
| | |it is occasionally a low
| | |tree, 20 to 25 feet high,
| | |and in its wild state on
| | |the hillsides in central
| | |Japan it flowers in May. It
| | |has proved quite hardy.
| | |
S. Obassia |Japan |White |A very beautiful but rare
| | |species, forming a more
| | |sturdy bush than the last,
| | |while the pure white
| | |flowers are borne in
| | |drooping racemes. It
| | |succeeds under the same
| | |conditions as the
| | |preceding.
| | |
S. officinale |Levant |White |From 6 to 8 feet high, but
| | |more delicate in
| | |constitution than either of
| | |those above named. It needs
| | |the protection of a wall in
| | |many districts.
-------------------+----------------+----------+---------------------------