The following are tables of hardy flowering trees and shrubs, and comprise only species and varieties suitable, unless otherwise stated, for almost all parts of the British Isles. An asterisk (*) denotes those of the first importance. This way has been adopted to compress as much information as possible into a small space.
| Name. | Country or Origin and Natural Order. | Colour and Season. | General Remarks. |
| Æsculus (Pavia), Horse Chestnut, Buck-eye | Sapindaceæ | | A well-known group
represented most largely by
the Horse Chestnut, which
is the tallest of the
species. The Æsculi
generally are of medium
size, and not very
particular about soil or
position. The smaller
growers were at one time
placed in a distinct genus,
Pavia, but now placed with
Æsculus. The more shrubby
species are welcome in the
garden, where the Horse
Chestnut would be out of
place. |
| *Æ. carnea | Hybrid between Æ. Hippocastanum and Æ. Pavia. Synonymous with Æ. rubicunda | Bright red; late May and early June | This is a handsome tree for
the garden, and is
generally about 15 feet
high in Britain. Its chief
charm is in the profusion
and brilliant red colouring
of the flower-spikes. It is
not of quick growth, but
flowers when very young.
It will be found in many
lists under the name of Æ.
rubicunda, the red Horse
Chestnut. Rosea is a good
variety recommended by Mr.
Anthony Waterer as a "tree
for planting in smoky
districts." Another fine
variety, peculiarly bright
in flower colouring, is Æ.
Brioti. |
| Æ. flava | A native of Carolina and Virginia, on mountain slopes; introduced in 1764. Sanguinea has red flowers. | Pale yellow | Those who want a tree in
this family of distinct
colour will find pleasure
probably in this, but its
colouring is dull, and the
flowers are not plentiful. |
| *Æ. Hippocastanum (Common Horse Chestnut) | From the mountains of Greece. Gerard mentions the Horse Chestnut in his "Herbal" in 1579
as a rare foreign tree | White; late May or early June. There is considerable variation, as many of the trees
in parks and gardens have been raised from seed | The common Horse Chestnut
is too well known to
describe. It is not a tree
for very exposed places, as
its large leaves offer
considerable resistance to
the wind, and get torn and
unsightly. The double
variety (flore-pleno) is
very distinct, having quite
double flowers. Foliis
aureis variegatis is a
variegated variety, as the
name suggests, with
blotches of yellow on the
leaves; and laciniata has
cut foliage. |
| Æ. indica | Nepaul, and other parts of Northern India. On the Himalaya the tree reaches a height of 70
feet, with a trunk 3 feet through | White, with yellow and red blotches at the base of the petals; Summer | This distinct and beautiful
tree is perhaps the rarest
of the Horse Chestnuts in
cultivation, and is not so
robust as the common
species. It flowered in
England as long ago as 1858
at Mildenhall in Suffolk,
but has been little heard
of. It is a tree doubtless
for the Cornish and
Devonshire and southern
coast gardens where the
Himalayan Rhododendrons
thrive well. Sir Joseph
Hooker, during his Himalaya
travels fifty years ago,
saw it loaded with its
white racemes, and equal in
beauty to the common Horse
Chestnut of English parks.
Its foliage is quite
distinct from that of the
other species, the leaflets
numbering seven or nine,
and being of a dark glossy
green. In the other Horse
Chestnuts the leaflets are
usually only five to each
leaf, and never more than
seven. The racemes of this
Indian species are about 8
inches long, the flowers
being white, with blotches
of yellow and red at the
base of the petals. |
| *Æ. (Pavia) parviflora | North America. On river banks in Georgia. Introduced to England by Mr. John Fraser in 1786 | White fragrant flowers sometimes tinged with pink, and long stamens, and in long upright racemes | This is better known as P. macrostachya, and is a low,
spreading shrub 8 to 10
feet high; the leaves
consist of five to seven
finely serrated leaflets,
covered underneath with a
whitish tomentum. Although
introduced so long ago,
this August flowering shrub
is not common; it is a good
shrub for a small garden,
and is not fastidious about
soil or even situation if
not too shady. It is
increased by suckers thrown
up around the plant. These,
when detached with a
portion of root, soon form
good plants. |
| Æ. californica | California. 40 feet in its native country, but not much more than a shrub here | Erect spikes of white or delicate rose; sweet-smelling flowers; May | This is not much known,
but is a handsome shrub or
tree. |
| *Æ. Pavia (P. rubra) | North America | Red; early summer | This is the Red Buck-eye,
and will grow 15 feet high,
but is more often simply a
big shrub. The flowers are
very bright red in colour,
and in loose clusters,
unlike the dense spikes of
the common Horse Chestnut.
The varieties are even
dwarfer. Humilis, for
instance, is only 4 feet.
Atrosanguinea has very dark
red flowers, and those of
whitleyana are brighter
than the type. |
| Æ. turbinata | Japan (introduced by Messrs. Veitch & Sons) | Yellowish white, not so large as those of the common Horse Chestnut | As this has not yet
flowered in this country,
as far as we are aware, but
will probably become
popular here, the following
account of it by Professor
Sargent in his "Forest
Flora of Japan" will be
interesting:—"This,
however, is a noble
tree—one of the largest
and stateliest of all the
horse chestnuts. In the
forests of the interior
mountain regions of Central
Hondo, at elevations
between 2000 and 3000
feet, horse chestnuts 80 to
100 feet tall, with trunks
3 or 4 feet in diameter,
are not uncommon. These
were, perhaps, the largest
deciduous trees on the main
island growing naturally in
the forest—that is, which
had not been planted by
men—and their escape from
destruction was probably
due to their inaccessible
position, and to the fact
that the wood of the horse
chestnut is not
particularly valued by the
Japanese. In habit, and in
the form, venation, and
colouring of the leaves,
the Japanese horse chestnut
resembles the horse
chestnut of our gardens,
the Grecian Æsculus
Hippocastanum, and at first
sight it might easily be
mistaken for that tree, but
the thyrsus of flowers of
the Japanese species, which
is 10 or 12 inches long,
and only 2½ to 3 inches
broad, is more slender; the
flowers are smaller, and
pale yellow, with short,
nearly equal, petals,
ciliate on the margins; and
the fruit is that of the
Pavias, being smooth, and
showing no trace of the
prickles which distinguish
the true horse chestnuts.
The Japanese horse chestnut
reaches Southern Yezo,
finding its most northern
home near Mororan, on the
shores of Volcano Bay, at
the level of the ocean; it
is generally distributed
through the mountainous
parts of the three southern
islands, sometimes
ascending in the south to
an elevation of 4000 or
5000 feet. There seems no
reason why this tree, which
has already produced fruit
in France, should not
flourish in our northern
states, where, as well as
in Europe, it is still
little known. In Northern
Japan the fruits are
exposed for sale in the
shops, although they are
probably used only as
playthings for the
children." |
HORSE-CHESTNUT (Æsculus Hippocastanum) IN FLOWER.
| Name. | Country or Origin and Natural Order. | Colour and Season. | General Remarks. |
| Amelanchier | Rosaceæ | | A charming family of
spring-flowering trees,
graceful in growth, and of
moderate stature. There are
four species, but dozens of
names in catalogues; in
fact, the genus is much
mixed up in many books and
lists. |
| *A. alnifolia | North-West America | White; Spring | This is usually about 8
feet high; it is very
beautiful with its wealth
of white flowers in compact
clusters or racemes,
followed by purple berries.
In the Kew "Arboretum"
Hand-list no less than ten
synonyms are given. |
| *A. canadensis | Canada | White; April | This flowers about a month
before A. alnifolia, and is
one of the first trees to
greet us with its wealth of
snow-white blossom in
spring. It should be
planted in a free group.
Juneberry and Snowy
Mespilus are its popular
names. Eighteen synonyms
are given in the list
referred to, the most usual
being A. Botryapium. No
small garden should be
without this lovely small
tree; it is between 6 and
8 feet high, spreading,
and has purplish fruits,
whilst the leaves die off
deep golden yellow, so that
the Snowy Mespilus has many
beautiful phases. There are
several varieties, but the
species is as beautiful as
any. |
| A. oligocarpa | Northern United States, and found in bogs and swamps | White; April and May | This is quite a dwarf
shrub, 3 feet to 4 feet,
and the individual flowers
are ¾ inch across. As it
is found in moist places it
should be tried in such
positions in Britain. |
| A. vulgaris | Europe | White; April | This has been in English
gardens about 300 years.
It is like the Canadian
Juneberry or Snowy
Mespilus, but not so
beautiful. If only one
Amelanchier is required,
choose A. canadensis. |
| *Andromeda polifolia (Moorwort) | Ericaceæ; widely distributed. | Pink; Summer | A small shrub about a foot
high, with pretty pink
wax-like flowers in summer.
Moist, peaty soil. See
Cassandra, Leucothoë,
Cassiope, Lyonia,
Oxydendron, Pieris, and
Zenobia. |
| *Berberis acuminata | Berberideæ; China | Bronzy yellow | Evergreen shrub with red
young wood. Introduced by
Messrs. Veitch. |
| *B. Aquifolium (Ash Barberry, Syn. Mahonia Aquifolium) | Introduced 1823. Spread widely over the western side of North America from Nootka Sound southwards. | Yellow; early Spring, dark green leaves of Summer have a purplish tinge after frost | A common, but handsome
evergreen shrub, reaching a
clothed height of 3 to 5
feet, and with dark green
pinnate and leathery
leaves. The flowers
are bright golden; they are
succeeded by berries,
purple when ripe, which add
to the ornamental features
of the plant. It is one of
the best shrubs for growing
under trees, and in many
places is planted for game
cover. Distinct varieties
are fascicularis, which
is usually 2 feet to 4 feet
high and has narrower
leaflets of a duller green
than the type. |
| *B. buxifolia (Box-leaved Barberry, Syn. B. dulcis) | Chili | Yellow; April and early May | An upright evergreen bush 5
feet high, clothed with
small box-like leaves, and
bearing drooping blossoms
borne on unusually long
stalks. It is not so
handsome as B. Darwinii or
B. stenophylla, but
flowering before them is on
that account valuable. A
dwarf variety (nana) is a
pretty rock-work plant. |
| B. concinna | Himalaya | Pale yellow | A little deciduous shrub
not more than 18 inches
high, and with silvery
undersides to the leaves.
It needs a sheltered spot
in good soil. |
| B. congestiflora var. hakeoides | Chili | Bright yellow | A large interesting bush,
with masses of flowers.
Rare. |
| B. aristata | Himalaya | Yellow | A strong-growing deciduous
shrub, somewhat after the
style of the common
Barberry, but chiefly
remarkable from the bright
red of the young bark,
which thus forms a fine
winter feature. |
| *B. Darwinii (Darwin's Barberry) | Chili | Orange yellow; May | This ranks with B.
stenophylla as the most
handsome of all Barberries;
and, indeed, it is in the
very front rank of
flowering shrubs. It is of
bold, wide-spreading growth
6 to 8 feet high, and the
masses of dark evergreen
leaves serve admirably as a
setting to the clusters of
orange-coloured blossoms
which are at their best in
May. The purple berries are
very attractive towards the
end of the summer. This
Barberry forms a delightful
lawn shrub, particularly in
a fairly moist soil. |
| B. empetrifolia | Chili | Yellow; Spring | A little evergreen bush
less than 2 feet high, and
flowering about the same
time as B. Darwinii. With
this just-named species it
shares the parentage of B.
stenophylla, which is
unsurpassed in the entire
genus. |
| B. nepalensis, Syn. Mahonia nepalensis | Nepaul | Yellow | The stateliest of the Ash
Barberries, forming a
specimen 6 feet high, and
regularly furnished with
long compound leaves. It
is, however, tender, except
in the West of England and
Ireland, where, in a moist,
fairly open soil, it does
well. Even there a
sheltered spot should be
chosen for it. |
| B. repens, Syn. Mahonia repens | North America | ,, | Related to B. Aquifolium,
and, like that, will do
well in shady spots. It is
dwarfer than the other
just mentioned. |
| *B. stenophylla | Garden form | Yellow; Spring | This is a hybrid between B.
Darwinii and B.
empetrifolia, and a shrub
of rare beauty. The slender
arching shoots are very
graceful, and during the
flowering period are
completely wreathed with
golden blossoms. Standing
singly on a lawn, or near
water, it is delightful.
It should be in the
smallest collection of
flowering shrubs. |
| *B. Thunbergi | China and Japan | Pale yellow and red; Spring | A spreading shrub 3 or 4
feet high, with flowers not
particularly showy, and
borne on the undersides of
the shoots just as the
young leaves are expanding.
The bright-red berries are
very showy, but they are
surpassed by the brilliant
scarlet of the decaying
leaves. |
| *B. vulgaris (Common Barberry) | Europe | Yellow; Spring | The common Barberry is an
ornamental deciduous shrub
8 to 10 feet high, and is
valuable from the fact that
it will thrive in dry,
stony soils. Apart from the
pale-yellow flowers in
spring, the scarlet berries
are very showy, and by some
are used for preserves.
There are many varieties,
the best being the
purple-leaved (purpurea)
and white-fruited (fructu
albo). |
| B. wallichiana (Syn. B. Jamesoni, B. Hookerii) | Himalaya and China | Sulphur Yellow; June | A dense evergreen bush,
with dark green spiny
leaves and pale yellow
blossoms. It grows 4 or 5
feet high. |
| *B. Wilsonæ | China | Rich golden colour | A fine shrub, the leaves
changing to an intense
crimson colour in autumn.
Spines an inch long. |
| Name. | Country or Origin and Natural Order. | Colour and Season. | General Remarks. |
| *Buddleia Colvillei | Himalaya; Loganiaceæ | Rosy crimson; June | A beautiful tree, reaching
a height of 30 feet in its
native country, but it is
hardy only in the extreme
West. |
| *B. globosa (Orange Ball tree) | Chili | Orange yellow; Midsummer | A deciduous shrub, 10 to 12
feet high, with long,
willow-like hoary leaves,
and flowers borne in
globular clusters about
midsummer. It is perfectly
hardy in warm soils in the
South of England, and is
much admired. |
| B. japonica, Syn. B. curviflora | Japan | Lilac; August | This has several
well-marked features,
forming as it does a
deciduous shrub about 4
feet high, with curiously
winged stems and long
curved spikes of blossoms.
|
| B. variabilis | China | Rosy purple, Yellowish throat; Midsummer | A free-growing shrub, 6 to
8 feet high. The variety
Magnifica was introduced by
Messrs. Veitch from Central
China; rich rose purple.
Prune well back each
autumn. Veitchiana is
lighter in colour and
flowers a fortnight sooner. |
| Cæsalpinia japonica | Japan; Leguminosæ | Canary yellow; Summer | A very interesting shrub,
rambling and with long
flexible shoots with red
prickles. The leaves are a
foot long, and of a
pleasing green; the
flowers, which are in
partially erect racemes,
are about 1 inch across,
and bright canary yellow in
colour, against which the
reddish anthers are
conspicuous. It must not
be planted where it is
likely to get smothered. It
has stood out unharmed for
many years in the
Coombewood Nursery
(Kingston). |
| *Calycanthus floridus (American Allspice) | North America; Calycanthaceæ | Purplish red; July | A deciduous, much-branched
shrub from 5 to 6 feet
high, well worth growing
for its highly fragrant
flowers, about a couple of
inches in diameter. It
needs a fairly cool, moist
soil. |
| C. occidentalis (Californian Allspice) | California | Crimson | Much like the preceding,
but of more vigorous growth
with larger flowers. |
| Cassandra calyculata (Syn. Andromeda calyculata) | North America | White; April and May | An evergreen under-shrub,
growing from 1 to 2 feet
high. The shoots are
arching, and the waxy
Lily-of-the-Valley-like
flowers are suspended from
the undersides in
considerable numbers. It is
a pretty but by no means
showy shrub, and needs
moist, peaty soil. |
| Cassiope fastigiata | Himalaya; Ericaceæ | Pink; Summer | A pretty little erect
growing shrub about a foot
high, suggesting a Club
Moss or a small Conifer,
with tiny bell-shaped
blossoms. It is suitable
only as a rock-work
shrub in moist, peaty
soil. |
| C. hypnoides | Siberia | White | Even smaller than the
preceding, and needs the
same treatment. |
| C. tetragona | North America and Northern Europe | White | The tiny scale-like leave
of this are arranged in
four rows, thus giving the
branches a curious square
appearance. Succeeds under
the same conditions as the
others. The Cassiopes are
difficult to grow.
|
| Catalpa | Bignoniaceæ | | This genus of large
deciduous trees is
represented in both
the eastern and western
hemispheres, and contains
about a dozen species. Only
five of these are at
present in cultivation in
Britain or are known to be
hardy, two being natives of
North America and three of
China. The Catalpas are
some of the most striking
and beautiful of all hardy
trees, both in regard to
foliage and to flower. The
leaves are large and bold
in outline, and the flowers
borne in large terminal
panicles towards the end of
summer. Catalpas love a
rich soil and abundant
moisture. They are
particularly well adapted
for planting on the margins
of ponds and water-courses.
All the species have this
peculiarity: they never
form a terminal winter bud.
In consequence of this,
every shoot branches at its
apex into two or three
every spring, with the
result that the trees
naturally acquire a broad,
spreading habit. This is
especially apparent in the
case of isolated trees
growing on lawns—a
position, it may be
mentioned, in which
Catalpas are seen to
exceptional advantage. In
the forests of North
America, where they are
drawn up by other trees,
the Catalpas occasionally
attain to heights of 50
feet to 100 feet. In
gardens it may sometimes be
advisable to help them to
reach a moderate height, by
keeping them to a single
lead when young. All the
species can be increased by
cuttings of the roots, or
of the fairly matured leafy
growths. |
| *C. bignonioides (Syn. C. syringæfolia) | Introduced from North America in 1726 | Creamy white blotched with yellow, and spotted with purple in the throat; July and August | This species is by far the
commonest and best known of
the Catalpas in Britain. It
does not often attain a
stature of more than 30
feet, although in its
native woods it is met with
twice as high. The broadly
ovate leaves are in healthy
trees of mature age about 6
inches long and 4 inches to
five inches wide. The
flower panicles are erect,
branching, and pyramidal,
frequently 1 foot in
diameter at the base. The
flower is 1½ inches
across, with a broad
bell-shaped base, the
reflexed limb being
elaborately frilled. The
thin, kidney-bean-like
fruits are 9 inches to 12
inches long, but in most
parts of the country are
only produced after
exceptionally sunny
seasons. The following
varieties are in
cultivation: Aurea, with
rich yellow foliage; nana,
a remarkable low shrub, 2
feet to 3 feet high, which
never flowers, and can only
be regarded as a curiosity;
purpurea, with
purple-tinged leaves and
shoots. |
| C. Bungei | Northern China | White, spotted with purple; they, as well as the panicles, are larger than in Kæmpfer's Catalpa | Whether the true C. Bungei
is in cultivation at the
present time is very
doubtful. Certainly the
plants supplied by some
nurserymen under this name
are only the dwarf variety
(nana) of C. bignonioides.
In any case the true C.
Bungei has not flowered in
Britain. It is a tree 30
feet high, with either
entire or lobed leaves;
they are 4 inches to 8
inches long, and about
three-fourths as wide. |
| C. cordifolia (Syn.species) | United States. It inhabits a more western region than C. bignonioides, and is found in the States of
Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, &c. | White, with yellow blotches in the throat; but the purple spots are not so abundant
in C. bignonioides, whilst the panicles are large, and appear about a fortnight before. | This is probably the finest
species of Catalpa, but is
not yet well known in
Britain. In the United
States it is often 50 feet
high, and in exceptional
cases over 100 feet. Owing
to its having been for a
long time confounded with
C. bignonioides, this
species was probably
introduced unknowingly, and
it may exist in some
gardens under the other
name. It is said to be
somewhat the hardier of the
two. |
| C. Fargesii | China. Introduced to France by M. Maurice de Vilmorin, and sent by him to Kew in 1899 | ...... | Little known of this species yet.
|
| C. hybrida | A hybrid between C. cordifolia and C. Kæmpferi. Raised nearly thirty years ago by Mr. John C. Teas in Indiana, U.S.A. | White, with yellow and purple markings on the throat | In the United States this
appears likely to prove the
finest of all the Catalpas,
exceeding even C.
cordifolia in the vigour of
its growth and the size of
its panicles. Four hundred
flowers have been borne on
a single panicle.
Generally, the plant is
intermediate between the
two species that share its
parentage. |
| C. Kæmpferi | China; introduced by Siebold in 1849 | Flowers 1 inch across; reddish-brown and purple markings | Whilst this species—named
in honour of Engelbert
Kæmpfer, who visited Japan
in the seventeenth
century—bears a strong
resemblance to the American
C. bignonioides, it is
neither so fine nor so
ornamental a tree. It has
naturally the same rounded
habit, but is never so
large. The leaves differ
in frequently being more
or less lobed. Kæmpfer
noted this tree in Japan,
and until a recent date it
was regarded as indigenous
to that country. Recent
travellers have, however,
concluded it to be (like
many other popular trees in
Japan) of Chinese origin
solely. It is frequent in
the grounds surrounding
Buddhist temples in Japan. |
CATALPA OR INDIAN BEAN TREE (Catalpa bignonioides).
| Name. | Country or Origin and Natural Order. | Colour and Season. | General Remarks. |
| *Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey Tea) | Eastern United States; Rhamneæ | Whitish; July and August | A deciduous shrub, 3 to 4
feet high, that dies
partially back during the
winter. The flowers, which
are borne in good-sized
racemes, are at their best
in July and August, and on
that account are very
valuable. It is one of the
hardiest of the
Ceanothuses, and in the
South of England it will
flower as a shrub in the
open ground. |
| *C. azureus | Mexico | Light blue; July and August | This is not quite so hardy
as the preceding, and it
cannot be regarded as a
shrub for the open ground,
except in particularly
favoured districts. It is,
however, a delightful wall
shrub. There are many
garden varieties of this,
mostly of Continental
origin, of which may be
especially mentioned Gloire
de Versailles, blue; Marie
Simon, pink; and Indigo,
deep blue, very beautiful.
|
| C. divaricatus | California | Pale blue; May and June | Suitable only for a wall.
With this amount of
protection it will reach a
height of 10 feet. |
| C. papillosus | California | Blue; May and June | Like the last, it is,
except in the extreme west,
essentially a wall plant;
it is one of the best. |
| C. rigidus | California | Purplish blue; Spring and early Summer | The leaves of this are
small and neat, and its
charming blossoms are on a
wall borne sometimes as
soon as April, and are kept
up through May to June. It
will reach a height of 6 to
8 feet. |
| C. thyrsiflorus | California | Bright blue; Summer | In its native country this
attains to the dimensions
of a small tree, but here
it is essentially a wall
plant. The flowers are in
large racemes. |
| *C. veitchianus | California | Bright blue; May and June | A species with neat
dark-green leaves. It forms
a delightful wall plant. |
| *Cercis Siliquastrum (Judas Tree) | South Europe and West Asia; Leguminosæ | Rose purple, but varies; May and June | Throughout May and early
June the Judas Tree is very
beautiful, being smothered
with pretty pear-shaped red
blossoms. At Kew it flowers
well in numerous places. It
grows to a height of 20
feet or more in the
Mediterranean region,
though in gardens here it
is more often represented
by bushes of less than half
that height. It thrives in
sandy loam, and likes
plenty of sun and air. The
flowers are produced from
all parts of the stems,
much of the old wood being
often smothered with
flowering spurs. A variety
with white flowers is in
cultivation, and this may
also be seen in flower at
Kew. It is very free, and
the flowers are of the
purest white. A beautiful
variety. In addition to
this species, C.
canadensis, from North
America, and C. chinensis,
a native of China and
Japan, are also grown,
whilst a fourth species, C.
reniformis, from Western
China, has lately put in an
appearance. |
| *Chionanthus retusus (Fringe Tree) | Japan; Oleaceæ | Pure white; Early Summer | This Chionanthus furnishes
one of the many
illustrations of the close
affinity that exists
between the flora of the
United States and that of
Japan, for it is very
nearly related to the
American Fringe Tree
(Chionanthus virginicus),
from which, however, it
differs in being a smaller
and more slender plant,
while the clusters of
flowers are rather less
dense. When in bloom there
is no danger of
confounding these
Chionanthuses with any
other tree or shrub, as the
pure white drooping
fringe-like inflorescence
is totally distinct from
anything else. They are
quite hardy, and not
particular as to soil,
though a fairly deep loam
suits them best. |
| C. virginica (American Fringe Tree) | North America | White, narrow, fringe-like petals; hence the name | An interesting bush, but
taller in its native
country. |
| *Choisya ternata (Mexican Orange Flower) | Mexico; Rutaceæ | White; Summer, but much depends upon position | This is a shrub for warm
soils and sunny position,
when it makes a big, leafy,
glossy-leaved bush,
smothered with clusters of
white flowers that, from
their appearance and
fragrance, have earned the
shrub the name of Orange
Flower. At Munstead in
Surrey it grows so
rampantly that it has to be
cut away to keep it within
reasonable bounds. In "Wood
and Garden," p. 63, it is
mentioned, the month is
May; "The Mexican Orange
Flower (Choisya ternata)
has been smothered in its
white bloom, so closely
resembling orange blossom.
With a slight winter
protection of fir boughs it
seems quite at home on hot
dry soil, grows fast, and
is very easy to propagate
by layers. When cut it
lasts for more than a week
in winter." |
| Cistus albidus | South-West Europe; Cistineæ | Bright rose; June and July | A shrub 4 to 5 feet high,
with whitish leaves (hence
the name of albidus) and a
profusion of blossoms 2
inches across. It needs a
dry, warm soil, hence will
succeed on sloping banks,
but even then, in the South
of England, it is apt to be
killed by a very severe
winter. This last paragraph
will apply to the genus
Cistus in general.
|
| C. crispus | Southern Europe | Reddish purple; Summer | Reaches a height of a
couple of feet, and bears
its saucer-shaped blossoms
in great profusion. The
individual flowers are
about 2½ inches in
diameter. |
| *C. ladaniferus (Gum Cistus) | South-West Europe | White; Summer | A bush 4 to 5 feet high,
with large, white, solitary
flowers. The variety
maculatus has a crimson
blotch at the base of each
petal. |
| *C. laurifolius (Laurel-leaved Cistus) | South of Europe | White; July and August | A sub-evergreen shrub 5 to
6 feet high, and the
hardiest of all the Cistus.
Of this there is also a
variety maculatus blotched
at the base with purple
crimson, which forms a
delightful shrub. |
| C. monspeliensis | South of Europe | White; Summer | A compact bush 4 feet high,
with flowers about an inch
across. |
| C. populifolius (Poplar-leaved Cistus) | Levant | White; Summer | The leaves of this are very
distinct, being
heart-shaped and
long-stalked, whilst the
plant itself will attain a
height of 6 feet. |
| C. purpureus | South-East Europe | Reddish purple with a maroon blotch | This is only suitable for
planting in the West of
England, but where not
injured by frost it is a
delightful shrub, a little
over a yard high. |
| *C. villosus | Mediterranean region | Reddish purple | A compact shrub, whose
reddish-purple blossoms are
about 2½ inches across. |
CISTUS VILLOSUS.
