Trees and Shrubs for English Gardens

by E. T. Cook

GARLAND FLOWER (Daphne Cneorum) ON SUNNY BANK, EDINBURGH.

Name.	Country or Origin and Natural Order.	Colour and Season.	General Remarks.
*Deutzia crenata (Syn. D. scabra)	Japan; Saxifrageæ	White; Midsummer	A bold growing and handsome deciduous shrub, with white blossoms. There is a double-flowered variety, tinged with purple on the outside, known as D. crenata flore-pleno purpurea. Both are beautiful shrubs that will thrive in most soils.
*D. discolor purpurascens	China	White, tinged purple; late May	This has pretty purple-tinged blossoms borne in flattened corymbs, and not, when in the bud state, liable to be injured by late spring frosts.
*D. gracilis	Japan	White; Spring	The best known of all the Deutzias, forming a compact bush a couple of feet high, and bearing masses of its pretty white blossoms.
*D. hybrida	Hybrid	White and pink	There are now several beautiful hybrid Deutzias, viz., hybrida rosea, hybrida venusta, kalmæflora, Lemoinei, Lemoinei compacta, all of which merit a place in gardens.
*D. parviflora	China	White; end of April and early May	An upright shrub 5 feet high, with flattened clusters of white blossoms, very suggestive of those of the Hawthorn.
*Diervilla florida (Syn. Weigela amabilis, W. rosea)	Japan; Caprifoliaceæ	Rose; Summer	A beautiful free-growing, free-flowering shrub, that will hold its own almost anywhere. Its flowering time is in May or early June, but occasionally there is an Autumn display. Beside the original species there are many garden varieties, all of which are beautiful, but there are so many that a selection is necessary. Three of the best are: *candida, white; *Abel Carrière, bright rose; and *Eva Rathke, claret crimson, which lasts in flower more or less from May till the end of the Summer. Other good varieties are: Dr. Baillon, red; Grœnewegenii, rose and white; hortensis nivea, white, spreading habit; Looymansi aurea, golden leaves; præcox, rose, earlier than any of the others; and P. Durchartre, purplish red. In any selection of flowering shrubs some of the Weigelas must certainly have a place.
D. middendorfiana	Siberia	Yellowish	Remarkable among Weigelas for its distinct yellow flowers. Though pretty in itself, it is likely to prove of more value in the production of new varieties by crossing it with the older kinds.
Enkianthus campanulatus	Japan; Ericaceæ	Dark red	A very charming and interesting shrub resembling one of the Andromeda. A tree in its native country. The flowers are pendent and in clusters.
Epigæa repens (Trailing Arbutus, Ground Laurel, Mayflower)	Ericaceæ. The most popular of wild flowers in New England	Pale white, with pink tint; very sweetly scented; Spring	In Bailey's "Cyclopædia of American Horticulture" it is mentioned: "The cultivation of the Trailing Arbutus, especially in districts where it has been exterminated by ruthless 'mayflower parties,' always attracts interest.... Occurs in sandy and rocky woods, especially under evergreen trees, in earliest Spring. Thrives only in humid soil and shady situations. Transplanted with difficulty. Best on north side of a hill in bright, sandy soil, mixed with leaf mould. Once established, it spreads rapidly. Propagated by division of old plants, layers, or cuttings. Seeds are rarely found, but when found may be used, though slow to develop." My experience is that it likes a damp, shady ditch side in peaty soil. Mr. G. F. Wilson planted it near to Shortia galacifolia, and the two were quite happy together.

THE MAY-FLOWER (Epigæa repens). (Shortia galacifolia is the top flower)

ERINACEA PUNGENS.

Name.	Country or Origin and Natural Order.	Colour and Season.	General Remarks.
Erinacea pungens	Spain; Leguminosæ	Blue; May and June	Somewhat resembling the dwarf-growing Genistas is this extremely rare and pretty little shrub. It grows very slowly, and seldom attains a height of 9 inches, spreading out in a mat-like mass rather than growing in an upward direction. The branches are short, stiff, and spiny, and what few leaves there are are small. The pea-shaped blossoms come from the axils of short, spiny branches, and are blue. This plant has been in cultivation for a great number of years, never, however, having become at all common. This is no doubt due to the great difficulty there is in propagating it. Seeds appear to be the only means of increase, and these are borne very sparingly even when the plant is growing under natural conditions. It has been said to be a tender plant, but it has withstood several winters out of doors at Kew without injury. Plants are to be seen there near the Temperate house, and they flower every year.
Escallonia illinita	Chili; Saxifrageæ	White; Summer	A neat evergreen shrub 4 to 5 feet high, with pretty white flowers. It is only in mild districts, such as the South and West of England, that the Escallonias are seen at their best.
*E. macrantha (Syn. E. Ingrami)	Chiloe	Crimson red; Summer	The finest of all the Escallonias, and one of the hardiest. It is a free-growing shrub over 6 feet high, clothed with rich green shiny leaves, and the bright-coloured fuchsia-like flowers are freely borne. It is a good wall-plant, and stands the sea-breeze well.
E. langleyensis	Hybrid	Rose carmine	Raised by Messrs. J. Veitch between E. sanguinea and E. philippiana. It has small, dark-green leaves, and an abundance of brightly coloured flowers. A good shrub.
E. montevidensis (Syn. E. floribunda)	Montevideo	White	Grows from 8 to 10 feet high, and bears its clusters of white flowers in great profusion. It is too tender for planting except in the extreme West of England and in Ireland.
*E. philippiana	Valdivia	White; Summer	Will succeed as a bush in the neighbourhood of London, where its small white flowers are borne in the greatest profusion.
E. punctata	Chili	Deep red; July	A much-branched evergreen shrub 5 to 6 feet high.
E. rubra	Chili	Red; Summer and early Autumn	Differs from the last in the absence of spots on the young leaves, in the flowers being rather lighter in colour, and borne for a longer period.

ESCALLONIA PHILIPPIANA (Kew).

Name.	Country or Origin and Natural Order.	Colour and Season.	General Remarks.
Exochorda grandiflora	China; Rosaceæ	May; White	See p. [2].
*Forsythia (Golden Bell) intermedia	Oleaceæ; hybrid between F. suspensa and F. viridissima. Represents the two parents	Yellow; Spring	This is a charming earlyshrub. It may be eithergrouped or trained, but onehas to be careful not tomake it too stiff. It isquite hardy, and a bush.
*F. suspensa (Syn. F. Fortunei and F. Sieboldi)	China	Yellow; Spring	A graceful and beautifulrambling shrub, now wellknown. It succeeds well inLondon—that is, if givenanything like favourableconditions. A fence fullyexposed to the sun in aLondon backyard is clothedwith it, and each recurringspring the Forsythiaflowers profusely, andforms an object of greatbeauty. Immediately theseason of blooming is pastthe plant is severelypruned, the old andexhausted wood being cutout and the vigorous shootsspurred back to withinthree or four eyes of thebase. This results in theproduction of long,wand-like shoots, which areallowed to develop at will,hence they disposethemselves in a loose andinformal way, and beingfrom the position of theplant thoroughly ripened,the spring display is inevery way satisfactory.When autumn pruning is donethe best portion of theflowering wood gets cutaway.
*F. viridissima	China	Yellow; Spring	Quite a bush, and veryhandsome when in fullbloom. Likes full sun andair.
Fraxinus Ornus (Flowering Ash), (Syn. Ornus europæa)	Mediterranean region and Orient	Creamy white; late May	This is a very charminglawn tree with luxuriantpanicles of flowers, andfoliage like that of thecommon ash. Angustifolia,latifolia, and variegataare varieties.
F. floribunda (Syn. Ornus floribunda)	Himalaya	White; Summer	Rather tender, but veryvigorous and handsome.
Fuchsia.—Though the genus Fuchsia is an extensive one, most ofthem are of more value in the greenhouse than outdoors—that is to say,throughout the greater part of the country. Still there are a few quitehardy Fuchsias, for, even if cut to the ground during severe winters theysoon recover, while in particularly favoured districts, such as in the Westof England and the Isle of Wight, they grow unchecked into large bushes,and sometimes make delightful hedges. Few flowering shrubs are morebeautiful than F. corallina and F. Riccartoni when in full bloom. Thehardiest are:—
*Fuchsia corallina (Syn. F. exoniensis)	Garden origin; Onagraceæ	Red; Summer and Autumn	A plant of more vigorousgrowth, and with largerleaves and flowers than anyof the other hardyFuchsias. It is verypopular in the West ofEngland, but is not nearlyso effective when cut tothe ground each winter assome of the others are.
*F. globosa	Chili	Red; Summer and Autumn	A free-growing Fuchsiawhich, if cut to theground, pushes up long,wand-like shoots thatbranch out freely, andtowards the latter part ofthe summer are smotheredwith bright-colouredflowers. In the bud statethese are of a globoseshape, hence its specificname.
*F. gracilis	Mexico	Red; Summer and Autumn	The name gracilis wellexpresses the prominentfeatures of this Fuchsia,for, though as vigorous asglobosa, it is far moreslender and graceful. Wherenot perfectly hardy thedrooping flowers are seento great advantage when theshrub is trained to a wall,and planted in a permanentbed the old stools will,even in the North ofEngland, pass unscathedthrough the winter, ifprotected by a mulch ofdecayed leaves. Verytender.
*F. Riccartoni	Garden Origin	Red; Summer and Autumn	This has the reputation ofbeing the hardiest of allthe hardy Fuchsias. It isin appearance about midwaybetween F. gracilis and F.globosa, and is as good asF. gracilis.
*Garrya elliptica	California; Cornaceæ	Greenish; Winter and very early Spring	A handsome evergreen shrubwith very dark green,leathery, oval leaves,about 3 inches long. Itsmost notable feature is thelong, pendulous malecatkins, with which theplant is freely drapedduring the early months ofthe year. This Garrya isall the better for theprotection of a wall inmost parts of the country.The male and female flowersare borne on separateplants, the male being,owing to its catkins, byfar the most ornamental.