Trees and Shrubs for English Gardens Part 31

CHAPTER x.x.x

SHRUBS FOR SMALL GARDENS

It is possible in small gardens to grow many beautiful shrubs without constant cutting of the branches to keep them within set bounds. Those mentioned in the following list will grow in ordinary soil. Transplant during late autumn and early winter; and one golden rule to observe in the case of shrubs obtained from nurseries is to plant them in their permanent position as soon as possible after they are received, but should anything occur to prevent this, the roots must be well covered with soil till planting takes place. In winter large numbers of plants are sold at auction rooms, but though they may appear cheap, this is not always so, as there is no guide to the length of time they have been out of the ground, and in a dry atmosphere many of the smaller roots may have perished. Such plants take a long time to recover from the check.

If trees or shrubs are bought at a local nursery, there is the great advantage of getting them in the ground again as soon as possible. The shrubs named are fully described elsewhere in this book.

_Aucubas_, 3 to 6 feet. Evergreen shrubs, some with variegated, others with plain green leaves. The male and female forms are separate. If the latter are fertilised, bright-red berries result.

_Azaleas_, 3 to 6 feet. For moist and peaty soil.

_Berberis Aquifolium_, 4 feet; _B. Darwinii_, 6 to 8 feet; _B.

stenophylla_, 6 to 8 feet; _B. Thunbergi_, 2 to 3 feet; _B. vulgaris purpurea_, 5 to 6 feet (a purple-leaved variety of the Common Barberry).

_Cornus Spaethii_, 4 feet. This has rich golden foliage.

_Cotoneaster frigida_, 12 to 15 feet. A st.u.r.dy tree, with scarlet berries in autumn. _C. horizontalis_, 2 feet; _C. microphylla_, 3 feet; _C. Simonsii_, 5 to 8 feet.

_Crataegus Oxyacantha_ (Common Hawthorn). As a small tree this is delightful in small gardens, especially the double-flowered forms, of which the richest in colour is Paul's double crimson. As a contrast to this there is the double white.

_Cytisus albus_ (White Broom), 6 feet; _C. nigricans_, 4 feet; _C.

praec.o.x_ (Sulphur Broom), _C. scoparius_ (Common Broom), 6 feet; _C. s.

andrea.n.u.s_.

_Daphne Cneorum_ (Garland Flower), 1 foot; _D. Mezereum_ (the Mezereon), and the white variety _alba_.

_Deutzia crenata fl. pl._, 6 to 8 feet; _D. gracilis_, _D. hybrida_.

_Elaeagnus pungens_, 6 feet. This is not so much planted as it should be; it is a rounded evergreen bush of great charm; flowers fragrant, November and December. There is a good variegated variety.

_Euonymus j.a.ponicus_, 4 to 8 feet; _E. radicans_, 1 feet. The variegated variety is very popular.

_Forsythia suspensa_, 6 to 8 feet. A climbing shrub, but may be kept in bush form if pruned back hard after flowering. A ma.s.s of golden-yellow flowers in March or April.

_Genista hispanica_ (Spanish Furze), 2 feet; _G. sagittalis_.

_Hamamelis arborea_ (j.a.panese Witch Hazel), 6 to 10 feet; _H.

zuccariniana_.

_Hedera_ (Ivy). It must not be forgotten that several varieties form bushes. These are known as Tree Ivies, and are invaluable in shady spots.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _HIBISCUS SYRIACUS (Althaea frutex), VAR. CaeRULEUS._]

_Hibiscus syriacus_, 6 to 7 feet.

_Hydrangea Hortensia_ (Common Hydrangea), 4 to 8 feet; _H. paniculata grandiflora_, 4 to 8 feet. Pruned back hard before starting into growth in spring, this can be kept dwarf, and if liquid manure is given the heads of creamy-white flowers in early autumn are very fine.

_Hyperic.u.m calycinum_ (Rose of Sharon), 1 foot. Grows well under trees.

_H. moserianum_, 2 feet.

_Ilex Aquifolium_ (Common Holly). A familiar and handsome evergreen tree. The best variegated varieties are Golden Queen, Handsworth Silver, and Silver Queen. _I. crenata_ (j.a.panese Holly).

_Jasminum nudiflorum_ (Winter-flowered Jasmine), Common White Jasmine.

Both for walls or to ramble over some support.

_Kerria j.a.ponica_, 5 feet. This little-known shrub should be more grown; its yellow flowers are small but pretty. _Flore-pleno_ is a popular variety.

_Laburnum._

_Ligustrum ovalifolium aureum_ (Golden-leaved Privet), _L. sinense_ (Chinese Privet).

_Magnolia conspicua_ (Yulan), 10 to 30 feet; _M. Lennei_, 6 to 12 feet; _M. soulangeana_, 6 to 15 feet; _M. stellata_, 3 to 6 feet.

_Osmanthus ilicifolius atropurpeus._

_Philadelphus coronarius_ (Mock Orange), 8 to 12 feet; _P.

grandiflorus_, 10 to 15 feet; _P. hybrids_.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _MOCK ORANGE (Philadelphus coronarius)._]

_Prunus._ This genus includes the Almonds, Apricots, Cherries, Peaches, Plums, and Laurels. The best are the Almond, Double-flowered Gean (_P.

Avium fl. pl._), _P. davidiana_, _P. j.a.ponica_ (_P. sinensis_), _P.

Laurocerasus_ (Common Laurel), _P. lusitanica_ (Portugal Laurel), _P.

persica_ (the Peach), _P. pseudo-cerasus_, _P. triloba_, 6 to 12 feet.

_Pyrus Aucuparia_ (Mountain Ash or Rowan tree). _P. floribunda_, _P.

j.a.ponica_ (_Cydonia j.a.ponica_), _P. Maulei_, _P. spectabilis fl. pl._

_Rhododendrons._ Excellent where soil and surroundings are suitable.

_Rhodotypus kerrioides_, 4 to 6 feet.

_Rhus Cotinus_ (Venetian Sumach, Wig Tree, Smoke Bush), 5 to 8 feet; _R.

glabra_, 6 to 12 feet; _R. typhina_, 8 to 15 feet.

_Ribes aureum_ (Golden-flowered Currant), 4 to 6 feet; _R. sanguineum_, 4 to 6 feet.

_Robinia hispida_ (Rose Acacia), 8 to 12 feet. A delightful tree; rosy flower cl.u.s.ters in early summer, but very brittle. Must not be in wind-swept corners. _R. Pseudacacia elegans_ (False Acacia), 20 feet; the Common False Acacia is too large for small gardens.

_Rubus deliciosus_, 5 to 6 feet.

_Skimmia Fortunei_ and _S. j.a.ponica_, 2 to 4 feet. Two neat little evergreen shrubs, with bright-crimson berries in winter. Cool, moist soil.

_Spartium junceum_ (Spanish Broom).

_Spiraea arguta_, 4 to 5 feet; _S. ariaefolia_, 8 to 10 feet, very beautiful; _S. Douglasi_, 6 feet; _S. j.a.ponica_ (_S. callosa_) and varieties (see tables); _S. media_, 4 feet; _S. prunifolia fl. pl._, 6 to 8 feet; _S. Thunbergi_, 4 to 5 feet.

_Symphoricarpus racemosus_ (s...o...b..rry), 5 to 6 feet. The variegated variety of the Common s...o...b..rry is pretty.