THE DRACÆNAS.
Long as this noble family has been known in our gardens, we have yet to learn a great deal about its use and beauty. Hitherto only allowed to grace a stove or conservatory now and then, the Dracænas in future will be among the indispensable ornaments of every garden where grace or variety is sought. They are among the very best of those subjects which may be brought from the conservatory or greenhouse in early summer, and placed in the flower-garden till it is time to take them in again to the houses in which they are to pass the winter months. And if it were not necessary to protect them through the winter, it would be almost worth our while to bring them indoors at that season, so graceful are they, and so useful for adding the highest character to our conservatories. The hardier and most coriaceous kinds, like indivisa and Draco, may be placed out with impunity very far north. The brightly coloured kinds, like D. terminalis, have been tried in the open air at Battersea, but not with success. It would be dangerous to try them in the open air much farther north, except in very favourable spots. The better kinds are indicated in the select list of subtropical plants. D. indivisa grows well in the open air in the south of England and Ireland.
Dracæna australis.—A fine plant, with a stout, branched stem, from 10 ft. to 40 ft. high; and oblong, lance-shaped, bright green leaves, from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in length and 2 ins. to 4 ins. in breadth, striated with numerous parallel veins. Flowers white, densely crowded, sweet-scented, ¾ in. across; but these are rarely produced except in large houses in botanic or other gardens, where there are old or well-established specimens. This is a useful conservatory species, and may be used out of doors in summer, like D. indivisa, though it is not quite so graceful. This plant is of very easy culture in ordinary soil.
Dracæna cannæfolia.—A very fine species from New Holland, with a tall stem, and leaves from 20 ins. to 2 ft. long, the sides of which are rolled inwards, so as to form a kind of pipe, of a fine sea-green colour, and supported on stalks a foot or more in length. This is a valuable species for warm greenhouse or conservatory use, and also for placing out of doors in the southern counties, though it thrives best indoors.
Dracæna Draco (Dragon tree of Teneriffe).—A large and vigorous species, native of the Canary Islands, where it attains a great height and age; the now perished Dragon-tree at Orotava in Teneriffe having grown, according to Meyen, “70 ft. high and 48 ft. in circumference, with an antiquity which must at least be greater than that of the Pyramids.” In this country it is seldom seen more than 10 ft. high. The stem is tree-like, simple or divided at the top, and often, when old, becoming much branched, each branch terminated by a crowded head of lanceolate-linear entire leaves of a glaucous green colour. The flowers form a large terminal panicle, and are individually small and of a greenish-white colour. This plant is more graceful and effective when in a young state, in which it usually occurs in our gardens, than when old and branched. It thrives well in the greenhouse or conservatory, and in the midland and southern counties may be placed in the open air from the end of May to October, while it is a fine object indoors at all seasons. It is of very easy culture in sandy loam, and requires plenty of pot room.
*Dracæna indivisa.—A very graceful plant, with leaves from 2 ft. to 4 ft. long, and 1 in. to 2 ins. in breadth, tapering to a point, pendent, and dark green. It should not be confounded with the conservatory plant known as Cordyline indivisa, which is too tender to succeed well in the open air, and somewhat difficult to grow. This species, on the contrary, is perfectly hardy in the south of England and Ireland. I saw good specimens of it at Bicton a few years ago, and quite recently as far north as Woodstock, in the county Kilkenny, in Ireland; a plant also stood out in a vase for several years in Mr. A. M’Kenzie’s garden at Muswell Hill, N. D. indivisa lineata is a very fine variety, the leaves of which are much broader than those of the type, measuring sometimes 4 ins. across, and coloured with reddish pink at the sheathing base. Other good varieties are D. indivisa atro-purpurea, which has the base of the leaf and the midrib on the under side of a dark purple; and D. indivisa Veitchii, in which the habit and size of the leaf are the same as in the species, but in addition it has a sheathing base and the midrib on the under side is of a beautiful deep red. It would be difficult to find a plant more worthy of cultivation than this. Where it does well in the garden or pleasure-ground in the southern parts, it surpasses any Yucca or other hardy plant that I know in respect of distinctness and tropical-looking grace; and, this being the case, there can be little need to plead for it to the many who have gardens in the counties south of London. In all districts it may be placed in the open garden in summer with fine effect, the rim of the pots plunged level with, or a little below, the surface, and the plants either isolated on the turf, in the centre of a bed of flowering plants, or grouped with other fine-leaved subjects. In the conservatory it is one of the most effective and graceful subjects at all seasons, and is of very easy culture in rich sandy loam.
The Dracænas are a very numerous family, and many more might be described; but most of the other kinds have not been proved to possess any excellence for the flower-garden, while those enumerated are abundantly sufficient to represent the aspect of this graceful and stately family.
Echeveria metallica.—This is scarcely high enough to be suitable for association with the taller plants, but it is so very distinct in aspect, and has been proved to grow so well in the open air during several unfavourable seasons, that I must not pass it by. I purposely exclude from this book many things sometimes found in lists of “subtropical” plants, but which may be classed most properly with bedding subjects. But this, although not very large, forms an agreeable and distinct object, and is very well calculated for producing a striking effect among dwarf bedding and edging plants. It may be propagated by the leaves, by cuttings, or by seeds, and requires a dry greenhouse-shelf in the winter. Light sandy earth, not of necessity very poor, will suit it best in the open air. It will prove very effective on the margins of beds and groups of the dwarfer foliage-plants, or here and there among hardy succulents, and should be planted out about the middle of May.
*Echinops ruthenicus.—A hardy ornamental plant from S. Russia, with stems 3 or 4 feet high, much branched in the upper part, and covered with a silvery down. The leaves are deeply toothed and spiny, of a dark green above, white and cottony underneath. The flowers are blue, and borne in almost spherical heads on the tops of the erect branches. The plant flourishes best in a calcareous soil, but will do well in almost any well-drained ground. Easily multiplied by seed, division of the tufts, or by cuttings of the roots in spring. This is the most ornamental of its distinct family, and is highly suitable for grouping with the finer herbaceous plants. It would also look remarkably bold and well if isolated on the turf.
*Elymus arenarius.—This wild British grass—a strong-rooting and most distinct-looking herb—is capable of adding a striking feature to the garden here and there, and should be quickly introduced into cultivation. Planted a short distance away from the margin of a shrubbery, or on a bank on the grass, and allowed to have its own way in deep soil, it makes a most striking object. In short, it deserves to rank high among really hardy fine grasses, the Pampas and the two Arundos alone surpassing it. I am not quite certain that it is not more useful than the Arundo, being hardy in all parts of these islands. In very good soil it will grow 4 feet high; and as it is for the leaves we should cultivate it, if the flowers are removed they will be no loss. It is found frequently on our shores, but more abundantly in the north than in the south. The variety called geniculatus, which has the spike pendulous, is also worthy of culture, and in its case the flowers may prove worth preserving. It may possibly be useful for covert, and is certainly so for rough spots in the pleasure-ground and in semi-wild places.
*Elymus condensatus (Bunch grass).—A vigorous perennial grass from British Columbia, forming a dense, compact, column-like growth, more than 8 ft. in height, covered from the base almost to the top with long arching leaves, and crowned in the flowering season with numerous erect, rigid spikes, each 6½ ins. long, and resembling an elongated ear of wheat in form. It is a very ornamental plant, and may be associated with our largest grasses. A very distinct variety has been raised in the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens, in which the spikes or ears are much shorter and broader than those of the original form. For this the name Elymus condensatus compactus has been suggested.
Entelea arborescens.—A small, branching, light-wooded tree, 5 to 10 ft. high, with large, alternate, heart-shaped or three-lobed leaves covered with stellate down, and white flowers, somewhat like those of a small dog-rose, borne in umbels on the ends of a branching panicle. It is peculiar to New Zealand, and is the only species of the genus. This used to grow satisfactorily in the Paris gardens, but I have no experience of it in this country. It will require greenhouse treatment in winter, and is of but secondary importance for open-air culture.
*Epimedium pinnatum.—A hardy dwarf perennial from Asia Minor, from 8 ins. to 2½ ft. high, forming handsome tufts of long-stalked radical pinnate leaves, and bearing long clusters of yellow flowers. The handsome leaves remain on the plant until the new ones appear in the ensuing spring. It is not a good plan to remove them, as they serve to shelter the buds of the new leaves during the winter, and the plants flower much better when they are allowed to remain. Cool, moist, peaty soil, and a slightly-shaded position, will be found most suitable for this, and the novel appearance of its foliage claims a place for it among the dwarfer plants, groups of fine-foliaged hardy herbaceous subjects, Mahonias, etc.
*Equisetum Telmateia (Giant Horse-tail).—A British plant of very noble port and much grace of character when well-developed, growing from 3 ft. to 6 ft. high in favourable soil and positions. The stem is furnished from top to bottom with spreading whorls of slender, slightly drooping, quadrangular branches; the whole forming a pyramidal outline of very distinct and pleasing effect. It is a highly ornamental subject for planting in the hardy fernery, the artificial bog, shady peat borders, near cascades, or among shrubs growing best in moist hollows in vegetable soil. Multiplied by division.
*Equisetum sylvaticum is another native Horse-tail of much dwarfer size, but of the most exquisite grace when grown; the stem standing from 8 to 15 inches high, and well covered with numerous slender, spreading, or deflexed compound branches. Very suitable for rockwork, margins of ornamental water, or any of the positions in which E. Telmateia may be grown. It also does well and looks very graceful when grown in pots in a cold frame. Multiplied by division.
*Erianthus Ravennæ.—A highly ornamental grass from S. Europe, somewhat like the Pampas grass in habit, but smaller in size, and frequently having violet-tinged leaves. The flowering-stems grow from 5 ft. to 6½ ft. high; but as it only flowers with us in a very warm season, it must be valued for its foliage alone. Its dense and handsome tufts thrive well in light, dry, calcareous soil, in positions with a south aspect. It thrives but poorly on cold soils, and will probably not grow well north of London except in peculiarly favourable positions, and in well-drained free loams. It is fitted for association with such grasses as Arundo conspicua. Multiplied by division of the tufts in spring or autumn.
*Eryngium alpinum.—A singular-looking plant, from 2 ft. to nearly 3 ft. high, forming a rather stiff bush, with leathery and very spiny leaves of a sea-green colour, and bearing numerous roundish heads of bluish flowers, the stems beneath them being also of a very handsome blue for some inches down. Suitable for planting in the wilder parts of pleasure-grounds, for isolation, for borders, or grouping with the finest and most distinct subjects.
*Eryngium amethystinum is not so tall as the preceding, seldom growing more than 2½ ft. high. It is remarkable for the beautiful amethystine bloom which the leaves assume in July, and which they preserve until the approach of frost. It is suitable for the positions recommended for the preceding kind. Various other members of this family are useful in like manner; indeed there is not one of them that is not so, including our own common Sea Holly, E. maritimum.
*Erythrina.—These are very beautiful trees or shrubs, pretty generally distributed through the tropics of both hemispheres. Some attain great dimensions, while others are dwarf bushes with woody rootstocks, and a few have the stems and leaf-stalks beset with prickles. The leaves are trifoliate, with long stalks, and the leaflets oval, lance-shaped, or triangular. Many of the species produce beautiful large pea-flowers, usually of a blood-red or scarlet colour, in terminal racemes. The varieties of these have proved very hardy and useful in the summer garden, flowering freely, and showing considerable beauty of foliage. Two round beds, each of 9 ft., and one oblong bed, 42 ft. by 5 ft., including E. ornata, Marie Belanger, laurifolia, crista-galli, profusa, Madame Belanger, ruberrima, Hendersoni, stood out last winter uninjured in Battersea Park; and, as many people know, the common old Erythrina crista-galli will thrive for years against a warm south wall in a warm soil, if protected about the root in winter.
Eucalyptus.—Handsome Australian trees and shrubs, of which there are a vast number of species, many growing to an immense height. The leaves are of a thick leathery texture, always quite entire, and very variable in shape. In young plants they are opposite, heart-shaped, pointed, and covered with a glaucous bloom; as they grow older, they become alternate and sickle-shaped, the stalks acquiring a peculiar twist, so that the leaves present their edges to the branches. The most hardy kinds are E. globulus and E. Gunni. Other kinds, however, will no doubt be found sufficiently hardy. These are most likely to be attractive in the south of England and Ireland, where a few of the species will be found to thrive in the open air, as the peculiarly distinct and graceful habit of the trees is not observed till they are 12 ft. or more above the ground. Nevertheless some may grow them for the aspect they present after a single year’s growth in the open air about London, in which case they should be put out about the middle of May. I was very much struck with their graceful and singular appearance in California, where they are being planted in great variety.
Farfugium grande.—A very vigorous-growing perennial, with thick fleshy stems, from 1 ft. to nearly 2 ft. high, and broad, cartilaginous, almost heart-shaped leaves, of a light-green colour, variously streaked, and spotted with yellow in one variety, and with white and rose-colour in another. It flourishes best in free, substantial, moist soil which contains a large proportion of vegetable mould, and in a half-shady position. During the heats of summer it will require frequent watering. At the approach of winter it should be removed to the conservatory or cool greenhouse, except in the southern and milder districts, where it survives an ordinary winter. In the colder parts of the country it is scarcely worth planting out, it grows so slowly; but where it thrives it is very ornamental in borders, isolated, or near the margin of beds. Multiplied by division in spring; the offsets to be potted and kept in the propagating-house or in a frame until they are well rooted.
Ferdinanda eminens.—This is one of the tallest and noblest subtropical plants, growing well in the southern and midland counties when it is supplied with rich soil and abundant moisture. It is also very much the better for being sheltered. Where the soil is rich, deep, and humid, and the position warm, it attains large dimensions, sometimes growing over 12 ft. high, and suspending pairs of immense opposite leaves. It will in all cases form a capital companion to the Castor-oil plant, and, though it may not be grown with ease in all parts, it should be in every collection. It requires to be planted out, in a young state, about the middle of May, and grows freely from cuttings. Greenhouse treatment will do in winter. It is better to keep a stock in pots through the summer to afford cuttings, though the old ones may be used for that purpose.