Trees and Shrubs for English Gardens

by E. T. Cook

Name.	Country or Origin and Natural Order.	Colour and Season.	General Remarks.
Hamamelis (Witch Hazel)	Hamamelideæ	Orange-yellow; Winter	A charming tree when inflower. It blooms early inthe year, the precise timedepending upon the weather.When the leafless shootsare studded with thegolden-yellow,narrow-petalled flowers,with their crimson calyces,it is very pretty. It isalso worth using with someshrub like Gaultheriaprocumbens as a groundwork.It enjoys an opensituation, and is not veryparticular about soil.
*H. arborea	China
H. japonica	Japan	Pale yellow; Winter	An interesting shrub, ofwhich *Zuccariniana is awell-known variety.
H. mollis	Japan	Bright yellow	This is a rare Witch-Hazel,with very broad and largeleaves, and wavy brightlycoloured, fragrant flowers.
H. virginica	Eastern North America	Pale yellow; Autumn	For many years this specieswas the only Witch-Hazel incultivation. Being spreadover the eastern side ofNorth America from Canadato the Southern UnitedStates, it naturallyattracted the notice of theearlier colonists, and itwas, in fact, introduced toBritain as long ago as1736. During the lasttwenty or thirty years,however, new species havebeen discovered and broughthome from China and Japan.They surpass this oldAmerican species in gardenvalue, and are, indeed,amongst the mostinteresting and attractiveof the shrubs that flowerin the early part of theyear. H. virginica, on theother hand, is at its bestin autumn. It has thenarrow, twisted, brightyellow petals which, withbut little variation, arecharacteristic of allHamamelis flowers. Theflowers cover the youngerbranches in close, denseclusters. It is a sturdyshrub, almost a small tree,and has leaves very likethose of the English Hazel(Corylus).
*Hibiscus syriacus (Tree Mallow, Syn. Althæa frutex)	China; Malvaceæ	White; blotched red	An upright growingdeciduous shrub 6 feethigh, is particularlyvaluable from the fact thatit flowers towards thelater part of August, whenso few hardy shrubs are inbloom. It needs awell-drained, loamy soil,that is, however, notparched up at any time, anda spot fully exposed to thesun. There are manyvarieties of this, rangingin colour from white topurple, both single anddouble flowered forms beingrepresented. Celestes,blue, and Totus albus,white, are the best.
*Hippophaë rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn)	A British shrub, chiefly in the south and south-east coasts; Eleagnaceæ	Flowers inconspicuous; yellowish	A beautiful somewhat spinytree, or rather shrub, toplant by the side of alake, pond, stream, moat,or anywhere a freespreading shrubby growth isdesired. But it willsucceed as well inland asby water. A splendid groupmay be seen near the pondat Kew, and for many yearshas made a beautiful winterpicture in the gardens.Every winter the wood madethe previous year isthickly cased with thebright orange-colouredberries, which remain onthe branches all thewinter, but later on, ifhard frosts areexperienced, they lose mostof their brightness. Itmust not be forgotten thatthe flowers are unisexual,i.e. those of one sexonly are borne on a tree.Male trees therefore do notproduce berries, and to getfruit a female and malemust be near. In eachgroup, say of abouthalf-a-dozen plants, oneplant should be male andthe rest female. This is ofthe utmost importance, andsee to it before the plantsleave the nursery. The SeaBuckthorn is a large shrubor small tree. A verypretty standard treeresults from keeping it toa single stem and removingthe lower branches. Theleaves are very charming incolour, a silvery grey. Themale plant is of moreupright growth than thefemale.

HYDRANGEAS.

Name.	Country or Origin and Natural Order.	Colour and Season.	General Remarks.
*Hydrangea Hortensia (the Hydrangea, Syn. H. hortensis)	China and Japan; Saxifrageæ	Deep pink; Summer and Autumn	Better known throughout the greater part of England as a greenhouse plant than as an outdoor shrub, but in the extreme south and west it is very handsome in the open ground. The huge heads of flowers make a great display. There are several varieties, some of them being often regarded as distinct species, the most notable of which are: Lindleyi, with the large sterile flowers limited to a few around the outside of the cluster. They are pink, tinged with blue. Mariesii is a very handsome Japanese variety, with large sterile flowers, pinkish mauve. Nigra or cyanoclada has purplish black stems, and is very notable on that account. Rosea has all the flowers sterile, and of rich rose colour. Stellata has the sterile flowers double and star-like. Thomas Hogg has white blossoms.
*H. paniculata	Japan	Creamy white; Autumn	A handsome shrub that may be grown as a dwarf bush or as a standard.
H. var. grandiflora			This is far more popular than the type, and is grown largely for flowering under glass as well as in the open ground. In this the huge pyramidal-shaped heads are composed entirely of sterile blossoms. If to be kept dwarf it must be pruned back hard when dormant, and only three or four shoots allowed to develop.
H. petiolaris (Climbing Hydrangea)	Japan	Creamy white; June and July	A free-growing climber, that attaches itself to a wall by means of aerial roots after the manner of ivy. It has flattened clusters of flowers. Being so distinct from all the rest, it at once attracts attention.
H. quercifolia	North America	White	A shrub about a yard high, with large lobed leaves. The flowers are less showy than some of the others. It needs a moist soil and a very sheltered spot.
H. radiata	North America	White	The flowers of this are not at all showy, but the leaves are clothed on the under sides with a dense white felt-like substance, which renders it very noticeable when ruffled by the wind.

HYDRANGEA PETIOLARIS. A GROUP IN WOODLAND.

Name.	Country or Origin and Natural Order.	Colour and Season.	General Remarks.
Hypericum Androsæmum (Tutsan, Syn. Androsæmum officinale)	Europe; Hypericineæ	Yellow	A free-growing deciduous shrub from 2 to 3 feet high, with a mass of small flowers, but not very showy. It will grow in the shade better than many other shrubs.
H. aureum	North America	Yellow; July and August	Reaches a height of about 4 feet. The orange-yellow flowers, about 1½ inches across, have a large and conspicuous mass of yellow stamens in the centre.
*H. calycinum (Rose of Sharon, St. John's Wort)	Levant	Yellow; July to Autumn	Forms a dense mass a foot high, while the golden-yellow flowers are quite 3 inches across. The long hair-like stamens are very numerous and attractive. It will both grow and flower well in shady spots.
H. elatum (Tall St. John's Wort)	North America	Yellow	Grows 4 to 5 feet high, and is very robust. The flowers, however, though freely borne, are only about an inch in diameter.
H. hircinum	Europe	Yellow; Autumn	When roughly handled the leaves of this species have an unpleasant goat-like odour, but it is decidedly ornamental, forming as it does a bush a yard high, while the flowers are bright yellow.
*H. hookerianum (Syn. H. oblongifolium)	Himalayas	Yellow; Autumn	Rather more tender than some of the Hypericums, but a showy kind. It grows over 4 feet high, and has clusters of large golden flowers.
*H. moserianum	Garden hybrid	Yellow; early Autumn	A hybrid between H. calycinum and H. patulum, and one of the most desirable of all the St. John's Worts. The slender branches are graceful, and terminated by clusters of rich golden-yellow flowers a couple of inches across.
H. patulum	Japan	Yellow	A delightful little shrub, but even in the south of England it is liable to be killed by a severe winter.
H. prolificum	North America	Yellow	Grows 3 feet high, and bears its clusters of blossoms very freely. The individual flowers are about an inch across.
H. uralum (Syn. H. nepalense)	Himalayas	Yellow	Somewhat in the way of H. patulum, and like that species rather tender.
Itea virginica	Virginia; Saxifrageæ	White; July	A freely branched rounded shrub, from 3 to 4 feet in height, and has small spikes arranged in much the same way as the shrubby Veronicas. It is a favourite of the Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa Atalanta). It is quite hardy, but needs a moist peaty soil.
Jamesia americana	Rocky Mountains; Saxifrageæ	White; April and May	A somewhat upright shrub, 4 to 5 feet high, with oval-shaped leaves and a great profusion of terminal clusters of pure white blossoms. It is quite hardy and needs a cool moist soil.
Kalmia angustifolia (Sheep Laurel)	North America; Ericaceæ	Bright purplish red; end of May	A delightful little evergreen shrub about a couple of feet high, with bright-coloured, saucer-shaped blossoms. All the Kalmias prefer cool damp soil, especially of a peaty nature— indeed, conditions favourable to Rhododendrons suit them well.
K. glauca	North America	Purplish pink	Flowers two or three weeks earlier than the preceding, and is somewhat dwarfer, but is equally desirable.
*K. latifolia (Mountain Laurel)	North America	Pink; May through Summer	This forms a large rounded bush from 6 to 8 feet high, clothed with handsome, bright-green foliage, while the flowers are pink and wax-like. It is a desirable subject to associate with Rhododendrons, which, except in flowers, it much resembles.

KALMIA LATIFOLIA. A GOOD SHRUB FOR PEATY SOILS.

Name.	Country or Origin and Natural Order.	Colour and Season.	General Remarks.
Kœlreuteria paniculata	China; Sapindaceæ	Yellow; June and July	A small picturesque tree 10 to 15 feet in height, with ornamental pinnate leaves, and large terminal panicles of bright yellow flowers, very distinct.
Laburnum (Cytisus) vulgare (Golden Rain or Chain)	Loudon writes: "A native of Europe and the lower mountains of the South of Germany, and of Switzerland, where it grows to the height of 20 feet or upwards. It was introduced in 1596"; Leguminosæ	......	There is no need to praise the laburnum; it is one of the most beautiful of all trees, and its countless flowers make a shower of gold in early summer. It seems strange to read that the laburnum is not a native, for it is so general in gardens, and is even used in hedgerows in some parts of the country. We have in mind a hedgerow in Berkshire with laburnums rising above the thorn, and a pleasant sight this is in late May and early June. Laburnums grow so freely almost everywhere that they are somewhat overdone in gardens, but it is so beautiful a tree that many would say: "I don't mind how many laburnums I have in the garden." Mr. Goldring, writing in the "Gardeners' Magazine" about laburnums, says:— "Besides the common way of growing the laburnum as a shrubbery or plantation tree, it may be put to various other uses. It is a beautiful covering for a wall on the north, east, or west sides. In some old gardens one meets with huge trees of it covering large areas of wall, and affording a lovely sight at flower time. This is a common way of growing it on the Continent, and in some of our old botanic gardens it may be seen trained against a wall as a host for the wistaria, which flowers about the same time, and produces a lovely contrast of colour. "I have pleasing recollections of seeing it in some old gardens trained over a path as a covered way before pergolas were in vogue in this country. For several weeks such covered pathways are glowing with colour, and for the rest of the summer they afford a pleasant shade. In some of the old Sussex gardens laburnum 'tunnels' are still to be seen, and they are worth imitating in new gardens. "Of the two commonly grown species of laburnum, L. vulgare and L. alpinum, there are numerous varieties, differing more or less from the types, though the differences in some cases are slight, even from a garden point of view. A laburnum is a laburnum to most people, and nothing more, but there is a great difference between a worthless seedling with short flower clusters of a poor yellow, and the varieties such as Watereri and Parksii which bear racemes fully 16 inches in length, and of a rich-toned yellow. There is, unhappily, in gardens, a preponderance of inferior seedling trees, because they can be raised easily and sold cheaply, but it is better to have one grafted tree of a first-rate variety than a dozen inferior kinds. "The number of named varieties of L. vulgare enumerated in Continental and English nursery lists exceed a score, and most of them are mere monstrosities of leaf-form or colour, only appreciated by the collector of curiosities. The finest varieties are those named Alchingerii, giganteum, Carlieri, and grandiflorum. Any of these, if true to name, are the kinds to plant. They all bear very long racemes, produced abundantly."
*L. alpinum (Cytisus alpinus), Scotch laburnum	Called the Scotch laburnum because a supposed native of Scotland, but this is not true. Loudon says: "It was introduced into Britain about the same time as the other species, 1596." The other species is Laburnum vulgare	Yellow	This is a well-known tree. Some of its varieties are very beautiful.
L. Watereri	Hybrid	Yellow	We have given this special prominence for the reason it is a hybrid. In Bailey's "American Cyclopædia" occurs this note: "Watereri, Dipp. (L. Parksii, Hort, C. alpinus and vulgaris Wittst.) Hybrid of garden origin, but found also wild.... As hardy as L. alpinum and sometimes considered to be a variety of that species."
L. Adami (Purple laburnum)	Graft-hybrid	Purple, yellow, and buff	This is a remarkable tree, and is named after M. Adam, who grafted Cytisus purpureus on the common laburnum. Loudon says the purple laburnum "is a hybrid between Cytisus laburnum and C. purpureus, in which the flowers are of a reddish purple, slightly tinged with buff, and are produced in pendent spikes eight inches or more long. It was originated in Paris, in the nursery of M. Adam in 1828; it was introduced into England about 1829, and has been a good deal cultivated." We noticed a tree of it in a hedgerow near Burnham Common, Slough. It is a strange tree. Some branches will perhaps bear entirely yellow flowers, like those of the common laburnum and others varied like Cytisus purpureus, by a flower that shows the characters of both parents. It is more curious than beautiful.
Name.	Country or Origin and Natural Order.	Colour and Season.	General Remarks.
*Ledum latifolium (Labrador Tea)	Northern portion of North America; Ericaceæ	White; late April	A much-branched shrub 2 to 3 feet high, and when in bloom covered with its rounded clusters of white blossoms. It needs a cool moist peaty soil,and given this it is very attractive when in bloom.
L. palustre (Marsh Ledum)	Northern part of Eastern Hemisphere	White, tinged pink	Much like the last, except that it is rather smaller, and the blossoms tinged with pink.
Leiophyllum buxifolium (Sand Myrtle), (Syn. L. thymifolium)	New Jersey and Virginia; Ericaceæ	White; May	A compact little evergreen shrub about a foot high. Every twig, however small, bears a cluster of pretty blossoms, in colour white tinged with pink. It is a good rockwork shrub in a cool moist position.
Lespedeza bicolor	Japan; Leguminosæ	Rosy red; July	Sends up stiff annual shoots to a height of 4 feet. The leaves are trifoliate. It needs a warm soil, and is not particularly attractive.
*L. Sieboldi (Syn. Desmodium penduliflorum)	China and Japan	Reddish purple; September	A deciduous sub-shrub that dies nearly to the ground in the winter. From the base are pushed up long wand-like arching shoots to a height of 6 feet, clothed with trifoliate leaves, and bearing large terminal panicles of pea-shaped blossoms. Should it escape the autumn frosts it is delightful.
Leycesteria formosa	Temperate Himalaya; Caprifoliaceæ	Purplish white, and purple bracts	A very interesting shrub, 6 feet high in the milder parts of these isles, but hardy almost everywhere. These flowers are succeeded by purple berries which are relished by pheasants, hence it is planted for covert in some places.
Ligustrum coriaceum (Thick-leaved Privet)	China; Oleaceæ	White	A sturdy evergreen shrub, with very dark-green leaves, thick, about 1½ inches long and roundish oval in shape. It reaches a height of about a yard, and is of extremely slow growth.
L. Ibota (Syn. L. amurense)	Japan	White; June and July	A graceful shrub with long, slender, arching branches, narrow leaves, and white flowers.
L. japonicum (Japanese Privet)	Japan	White; early July	Reaches a height of 6 to 8 feet, and forms a freely branched bush clothed with bright shining green leaves from 2 to 3 inches, oval pointed in shape.
*L. lucidum (Wax Tree)	China	White; July and August	This is the most ornamental of all the Privets in foliage, the leathery dark-green leaves being sometimes as much as 6 inches long, and over two inches wide. It reaches a height of 9 to 12 feet, and has large panicles of white flowers. There is a variety—tricolor, with leaves beautifully variegated, but being tender it needs wall protection.
L. massalongianum (Syn. L. rosmarinifolium)	Khasia Hills	White	The long narrow leaves of this species make it distinct from all other Privets. It is hardy only in the west of England and Ireland.
*L. ovalifolium (Oval-leaved Privet)	Japan	White	This sub-evergreen species is one of the hardiest of all Privets, being much used for hedges, and for planting where little else will thrive. Its small dense clusters of flowers are borne in great profusion, but they (in common with most Privets) possess such a heavy and unpleasant odour as to unfit them for planting near dwelling-houses. The golden form of this Privet, known as Aureum or Elegantissimum, is met with nearly everywhere, particularly in the environs of London.
*L. Quihoui	China	White; late September	A somewhat spreading shrub about 5 feet high, with small leaves and terminal panicles of flowers. For this reason it is worth growing as a flowering shrub.
*L. sinense (Chinese Privet)	China	White	The finest of all Privets as regards its flowers. It forms a sub-evergreen shrub from 12 to 15 feet high, with arching branches, and frond-like arrangements of the smaller branchlets, which are clothed with leaves about the size of those of the Common Privet, and pale green in colour. The white flowers are borne in such profusion towards the end of July that the entire plant is quite a mass of that colour. It needs a well-drained soil.
L. vulgare (Common Privet)	Europe	White	As a hedge plant this is to a great extent superseded by L. ovalifolium, but it is still a useful shrub for rough places. It is one of the subjects that can be clipped into all manner of shapes, hence it is very popular for topiary work.
*Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip tree)	United States; Magnoliaceæ	Yellow; June	The Tulip tree is one of the most beautiful and distinct of all our hardy trees, for the peculiarly shaped four-lobed leaves cannot be confounded with those of any other. It occurs over a considerable extent of country in North America, and when suitably situated attains a height of 130 to 140 feet. Though these dimensions are not reached in this country, specimens nearly 100 feet high are known, and its great value as a timber tree has been demonstrated here as well as in the United States, where it is given the name of the White Wood. The yellow Tulip-like flowers, from whence its popular name in this country is derived, are very pretty, but as a rule borne at such a height that their beauty cannot be seen. They, however, add to the interest and charm of the tree, and with the handsome leafage and the rich yellow hue of the foliage in the Autumn, as well as its thorough hardiness and almost complete indifference to soil and situation, make it one of the most desirable of our large growing trees. There are several varieties, notable among them being integrifolia, in which the distinctive lobes of the leaves are suppressed; aurea maculata, whose leaves are blotched with yellow; and fastigiata, which is of upright growth. These are all interesting, but not equal in beauty to the type.
Loropetalum chinense	China; Hamamelideæ	Pure white; Winter	A very interesting shrub, with long petals, resembling one of the flowers of Hamamelis; they appear 6 to 8 together in clusters at the bract tips. Tender.