Trees and Shrubs for English Gardens Part 24

VITIS (Vines).--Of these the best are _V. Coignetiae_,* _V.

heterophylla_,* _V. Labrusca_,* and _V. riparia_.*

YUCCA.--_Y. acutifolia_, _Y. filamentosa_,* and _Y. gloriosa_.*

BAMBOOS.--These require sheltered positions and good deep soil. The following have proved to be the best out of a considerable number: _Arundinaria auricoma_,* _Fortunei_,* _var. variegata_,* _falcata_,*

_Hindsii_,* _j.a.ponica_,* _nitida_,* _pumila_,* _Veitchii_,* _Simoni variegata_,* _Bambusa palmata_,* _B. tessellata_,* _Phyllostachys aurea_,* _Henonis_,* _boryana_,* _flexuosa_,* _mitis_,* _nigra_,*

_Quiloi_,* _viridi-glaucescens_.*

[Ill.u.s.tration: _WYCH ELMS BY HEDGEROW._]

CONIFERS.--These are only useful when young--at least, the majority of them. It is impossible to keep them symmetrical against strong cold winds, and the deposits of soot upon their foliage are injurious.

When Conifers are wished for as large trees, the Cedar of Lebanon, Atlantic Cedar, _Pinus sylvestris_, _Pinus Pinaster_, or _Cupressus lawsoniana_ are suitable.

When Abies and Picea lose their symmetry they are usually far from ornamental. All the species and beautiful varieties of Cupressus, Thuya, and Juniperus are very valuable in a young state. They should be replaced as they become thin and shabby, as they soon do in exposed places. The most satisfactory tree of all is the Yew. Even this hardy tree has its foliage badly hurt by severe winds, but the damage is soon made good.

CHAPTER XXIV

TENDER SHRUBS AND TREES IN THE SOUTH-WEST[1]

The possibilities that exist of the successful open-air culture of tender subjects in the south-west are but little dreamt of by the majority of English flower-lovers. They doubtless read with interest the accounts in the horticultural press of Australian, Chilian, and Californian flowering trees and shrubs growing in their native habitats, and possibly feel a desire to visit these climes in order that they may verify with their own eyes the truth of their readings. As a matter of fact, however, a lengthy sea-voyage is by no means indispensable in order to view certain of these exotics flourishing in the open air, for a few hours' journey by rail will bring the pa.s.senger to a land where many of these denizens of other climes may be seen enjoying robust health under English skies.

The following list of tender shrubs and trees growing in the gardens of the south-west cannot claim to be an exhaustive one, since it contains only such as have been personally noticed in good health during rambles along the southern coast-line of Cornwall and Devon, and, where no lengthened inspection is possible, it is obvious that certain species and varieties must be overlooked. Incomplete, however, as it doubtless is, it should give an idea of the climatic advantages enjoyed by the district in question.

Many of the subjects mentioned are growing in Tresco Abbey gardens, Isles of Scilly, but most of these are also found in mainland gardens as well. Where any have been met with at Tresco only, the fact is noted, but these may also be present on the mainland.

The soil of the Scillies, which is composed apparently of peat and disintegrated granite, and is almost identical with much of that around Penzance, is admirably adapted for hard-wooded Australian, New Zealand, and Chilian shrubs and trees, and almost all the species and genera enumerated would be best suited by a compost in which peat and leaf-mould and granite sand formed the chief proportion, although it must be allowed that some alluded to have been found to succeed equally well in sandy loam. Porosity in the soil is indispensable, for, in this district, where the winter rains are often exceptionally heavy, unless the water percolates rapidly through the ground, stagnant moisture collects around the roots, a condition which is absolutely fatal to success. The advantages of the Cornish granite sand are gradually being appreciated. Mr. Fitzherbert writes, "I was told the other day by an acquaintance that since he had imported it by the truck-load to his Suss.e.x garden he was able to grow many things successfully that he had before failed with."

ABELIA FLORIBUNDA.--Mexico. A beautiful evergreen shrub, bearing cl.u.s.ters of drooping pink flowers about 3 inches in length. Requires a sunny and sheltered site. Finest specimen 6 feet. Several gardens.

ABUTILON VEXILLARIUM.--Rio Grande. A handsome evergreen species generally grown against a wall. It throws up long, slender, arching shoots from 6 to 8 feet in length, studded with pendulous ball-shaped flowers with crimson sepals, yellow petals, and dark-brown stamens which are very striking and often remain in bloom for six months. Common. _A.

vitifolium_--Chili. A most ornamental evergreen shrub of which there are two forms, one bearing lavender flowers, the other white. In exceptional cases it attains a height of 20 feet, and when covered with its large blossoms, which are about 3 inches in diameter, and feathered to the ground with foliage, it presents a lovely picture. Large specimens form pyramids of bloom, and in some gardens numbers of these are to be found.

Wall protection unnecessary.

ACACIAS.--Australia. In Cornish and South Devon gardens many species are to be met with in robust health. _A. affinis_, very generally confounded with _A. dealbata_, is the most common. In many cases _A. affinis_ is grown as _A. dealbata_. The leaves of the former are green, while those of the latter are bluish and its flowers are less bright in colour. A group of _A. affinis_ about 35 feet in height was a wonderful sight at Tregothnan at the end of March, being simply covered with golden blossom which was thrown into high relief by a background of Ilexes. _A.

verticillata_ is another handsome species flowering later in the spring.

It is a very rapid grower, reaching a height of 15 feet in a few years, generally growing in the form of a broad-based cone, with its lower branches but a foot or so from the ground. When in flower it is so covered with its pale-yellow blossoms that no foliage is discernible.

_A. armata_ may be seen as a bush 7 feet high and as much in diameter.

_A. ovata_ Mr. Fitzherbert has only seen as a bush some 3 feet high; very pretty when bearing its circular, golden flower-bells. _A.

longifolia_ is another handsome tree, with leaves something like those of an Oleander and bright-yellow flowers. _A. melanoxylon_ is a fine tree. The specimen at Tresco is about 50 feet in height, and there are good examples on the mainland. Pale-yellow flowers produced in profusion. Other species met with are _A. riceana_, _A. (Albizzia) lophantha_, _A. calamifolia_, _A. linifolia_, _A. latifolia_, and _A.

platyptera_, the latter against a wall.

ADENANDRA FRAGRANS.--Cape of Good Hope. A small evergreen shrub, bearing fragrant, rose-coloured flowers. Tregothnan.

ANOPTERUS GLANDULOSA.--Tasmania. A vigorous evergreen shrub, with dark, shining green leaves, bearing long, erect terminal racemes of white, cup-shaped flowers, resembling the blooms of _Clethra arborea_, but larger. Tregothnan.

ACANTHOPANAX SPINOSUM.--Garden seedling. A striking plant with dark-green, large-sized leaves divided into five sections. Height at present 5 feet. Tregothnan.

ASTER (OLEARIA) ARGOPHYLLUS.--Australia. The Silver Musk tree, with musk-scented leaves and dull-red flowers in summer. Three gardens.

Height 12 feet.

ATHROTAXIS LAXIFOLIA.--Tasmania. A tender Conifer. A fine example, 20 feet in height, fruited profusely at Menabilly two years ago.

BANKSIA GRANDIS.--Australia. Evergreen shrub, bearing yellow flowers in dense spikes. _B. serrata_, red flowers, and _B. littoralis_. All at Tresco. _B. quercifolia_, handsome leaves, with white reverse.

Abbotsbury. Banksias were at one time in request as greenhouse plants.

BAUERA RUBIOIDES.--New South Wales. A pretty little evergreen shrub not unlike a Heath, but more branching, bearing solitary, pink, saucer-shaped flowers half an inch across, each petal striped with white down the centre.

BENTHAMIA (CORNUS CAPITATA) FRAGIFERA.--Nepaul. A handsome, evergreen tree, first introduced into England in 1825, when seed was sown at Heligan, Cornwall, and where there are now specimens some 60 feet in height. It is largely represented throughout Cornwall, being used in some places as a woodland tree. In June, when the leaf.a.ge is hidden by the wide-spread, platter-like flowers of pale yellow, its effect is very beautiful, especially when thrown up by a background of green foliage.

In the autumn the fruits, from which it takes its name of Strawberry tree, some an inch or more in diameter, become bright crimson.

BORONIA.--Australia. These are almost universally treated as greenhouse plants, but succeed in the open air in the south-west. At Tregothnan, at the end of March, two bushes of _B. megastigma_, planted in front of a wall, the larger of which was about 3 feet in height, were coming into profuse bloom, and already scented the air with the first of their brown, yellow-lined, drooping cups. _B. heterophylla_, with its purple-red flowers was also expanding blooms, and _B. Drummondii_, _B.

elatior_, and _B. polygalaefolia_ were also growing in the same garden.

BRACHYGLOTTIS REPANDA.--New Zealand. A handsome tree, with leaves nearly a foot in length and numerous minute flower-heads. Tresco.

BUDDLEIA COLVILLEI.--Sikkim. The finest of the new race, with pendulous racemes, nearly a foot in length, of crimson, pentstemon-like flowers, paler round the centre, an inch across. Leaves large and dark green, 6 inches or more in length. Several gardens.

CALLISTEMON SALIGNUS.--Australia. There are two forms of this Bottle-brush, one bearing pale-yellow flowers and the other crimson.

Others are _C. lanceolatus_, carmine-flowered, and _C. speciosus_, scarlet-flowered. These grow well as bushes, specimens of the first-named being sometimes 10 feet in height and as much in diameter.

There is much confusion between this genus and _Metrosideros floribunda_. Callistemons are to be found in many gardens.

CAMELLIA RETICULATA.--This is hardy, but rarely flowers satisfactorily in the open except in the south-west, where it is grown both against walls and as a bush plant. It is by far the finest of the Camellias, bearing lovely, pink, semi-double flowers 6 inches in diameter, with bright-yellow, spreading stamens.

CANDOLLEA TETRANDRA.--Australia. An evergreen bush bearing clear-yellow, cup-shaped flowers somewhat resembling Sun Roses, but of finer texture.

Tresco.

CANTUA BUXIFOLIA.--Peru. An evergreen shrub, bearing in corymbs at the end of the branches pale-red trumpet-flowers something after the style of _Fuchsia corymbiflora_. Tresco.

CARPENTERIA CALIFORNICA.--A well-known evergreen shrub in the south-west, bearing fragrant, white, yellow-centred flowers. In some gardens it suffers from browning of the leaves, but this is apparently not the effect of cold winds or frost, as often the most exposed plants are the least affected and the most sheltered are in the worst plight.

The finest specimen known to Mr. Fitzherbert is about 8 feet high and as much through; it is growing near Teignmouth. It may be considered fairly hardy since it has been grown in the open in Scotland.

CARYOPTERIS MASTACANTHUS.--Chili. A most valuable, much-branched evergreen shrub growing to a height of 4 feet or more, bearing lavender-blue cl.u.s.ters of flowers in October. There is also a white form. The type is common. This is also happy farther north.

Ca.s.sINIA LEPTOPHYLLA.--New Zealand. A small evergreen shrub, bearing white flower-heads. Tregothnan.

CEANOTHUS.--California and Mexico. Many species and varieties are grown both as bushes, in which form they soon make small trees, and trained against walls. Of the early-flowering varieties _C. veitchia.n.u.s_ is the brightest coloured, and of the autumn-blooming, azureus section, Gloire de Versailles is the favourite. Common in most gardens.

CITHAREXYLOM QUADRANGULARE.--West Indies. The Fiddle-wood. Bears white, fragrant flowers. There is a fine specimen at Abbotsbury. Dorset.

CITRUS TRIFOLIATA (OEGLE SEPIARIA).--j.a.pan. This fiercely-spined Citrus is hardy, but rarely flowers and fruits in the north. In the south-west it flowers freely, and one specimen fruits almost annually.

It is 7 feet in height, and last year carried over thirty fruits.

CLERODENDRON TRICHOTOMUM.--j.a.pan. A deciduous shrub, also hardy, but flowering best in the south-west. A fine specimen over 15 feet in height and as much through is at Greenway on the Dart.