Hermánnias, a genus of about forty species, all natives of the Cape of Good Hope, and not worth cultivating. They have yellow cup-like flowers, and are of the easiest cultivation. Several species are in our collections.
Hibbértias, about ten species. Three of them are very fine climbing evergreen shrubs, viz. H. glossulariæfòlia; H. dentàta; H. volùbilis, if closely approached has a disagreeable smell; H. fasciculàta, H. salígna, and H. pedunculàta, are evergreen shrubs; they have pure yellow flowers of five petals, blooming from May to September.
Habránthus, about ten species of small South American bulbs, nearly allied to Amaryllis. H. Andersónii, H. versícolor, and H. robústa are the finest; they are in colour yellow, blue, and lilac. We have very little doubt but these bulbs will do to plant out in the garden in April, and be lifted in October. Keep them from frost. Thus treated, they are very desirable bulbs.
Hòveas, about eight species, pretty plants of New South Wales, blue pea-flowering evergreen shrubs; the finest are H. lineàris, H. rosmarinifòlia, H. longifòlia, and H. Célsii, which is the most superb, and flowers in abundance. They grow and flower freely; the pots should be drained.
Hydrángea horténsis is a well known plant, and much esteemed for its great profusion of very elegant, though monstrous, flowers. They are naturally of a rose colour, but under certain circumstances of culture they become blue. If grown in brown loam with a little sand, they will preserve their original colour; but if grown in swamp earth with a little mould of decayed leaves, they will become blue. The swamp earth and vegetable mould being more combined with aluminous salt than brown loam, is the cause of the change; and, when first found out, (which was merely by chance,) was thought a great wonder. It must have a very plentiful supply of water when in flower, which is produced on the shoots of the previous year. They will neither grow nor flower well if they are not kept constantly in the shade. When kept in the sun, the foliage is very brown; and by being neglected in watering, we have seen the flowers completely scourged. Being tolerably hardy, when the winters are mild, by a little protection in the open air, they will flower profusely; the flowers will be very large, and in bloom from June to October. They are deciduous, soft wooded shrubs.
Hypéricums, St. John's wort, about twenty species. A few of them are very showy, and with few exceptions have yellow flowers. H. monógynum, H. balearicum, H. floribúndum, H. canariénse, H. ægyptìacum, and H. cochinchinense, which has scarlet flowers, are amongst the best, and all of them flower freely; five petals, filaments many in three or five parcels. They are all of very easy cultivation, and bloom generally from April to September.
Ilex, Holly, of I. aquifòlium. There are above one hundred species of them in cultivation in Europe, differing in variegation, margin, shape, and size of the leaves; some are only prickly on the margin of the foliage, others prickly over all the surface. In Europe they are all hardy, but with us few or none of the varieties are so. If they become acclimated, they will be a great ornament to our gardens, being all low evergreen shrubs. The most common and conspicuous varieties are the hedgehog, striped hedgehog, white edged, gold edged, and painted; the flowers are white and small, berries yellow or red; they do not agree with exposure to the sun. J. Cassíne and J. vomitòria have very bitter leaves, and, though natives of Carolina, we have to give them the protection of a Green-house. It is said that at certain seasons of the year the Indians make a strong decoction of the leaves, which makes them vomit freely, and after drinking and vomiting for a few days, they consider themselves sufficiently purified.
Illíciums, Aniseed-tree, three species. I. floridànum, has very sweet-scented, double purple flowers, and the plant grows freely and systematically if properly treated, and deserves the attention of the admirers of flowers. I. parviflòrum has small yellow flowers; I. anisàtum is so very like I. parviflòrum in every respect, as to make us conclude they are the same, were I. anisátum not a native of China, and the other two natives of Florida. When the leaves and capsules of either of them are rubbed, they have a very strong smell of anise;—they grow very freely.
Indigófera; Indigo-tree, about twenty species, belong to the Green-house, and are chiefly pretty free flowering shrubs. I. denudàta, I. amæna, I. austràlis, I. angulàta, I. càndicans, and I. filifòlia, are very fine; flowers papilionaceous, in long panicles; colour various, red, blue, yellow, and pink.