Trees and Shrubs for English Gardens Part 12

Atriplex Halimus (Sea Purslane). Will grow close to the water.

Aucuba j.a.ponica (Aucuba). Few evergreens equal this.

Berberis (Barberry), Aquifolium, Darwinii, buxifolia, and stenophylla.

Buxus (Box) and its varieties.

Cistus Gum. Does well at Felixstowe, Suffolk.

Colutea arborescens (Bladder Senna). Will grow in very sandy soil.

Corylus Avellana (Hazel) and varieties.

Cotoneaster of sorts. All these are good for the purpose.

Cytisus (Broom) of sorts.

Daphne Laureola (Spurge Laurel). Will grow in shade.

Deutzia crenata, D. crenata flore-pleno, D. gracilis, D. Lemoinei.

Elaeagnus of sorts. All of these are good.

Euonymus europaeus and E. latifolius (Spindle trees), and the evergreen E. j.a.ponicus and its varieties. This last is one of the most valuable evergreens, but it is rather tender.

Ficus Carica (Common Fig).

Forsythia suspensa. A charming rambling shrub.

Fuchsias, particularly F. Riccartoni.

Halimodendron argenteum (Siberian Salt tree).

Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn). The finest seaside shrub or small tree that we have; grows well in damp sands.

Leycesteria formosa.

Ligustrum (Privet) of sorts.

Lycium chinense (Box Thorn).

Olearia Haastii (Daisy bush).

Osmanthus ilicifolius and varieties.

Philadelphus (Mock Orange) of sorts.

Phillyraea angustifolia, latifolia, media, and vilmoriniana.

Prunus spinosa flore-pleno (Double-flowered Sloe).

,, Laurocerasus (Common Laurel).

,, lusitanica (Portugal Laurel).

Pyrus j.a.ponica (j.a.pan Quince).

Ribes aureum (Golden-flowered Currant).

,, sanguineum (Flowering Currant) and varieties.

Rosa. The different wild Roses and Rosa rugosa.

Rubus (Bramble). The double-flowered and cut-leaved forms are very ornamental.

Salix (Willow) of sorts. All prefer moist soil.

Sambucus (Elder) of sorts.

Skimmia j.a.ponica. Valuable for its bright-red berries.

Spartium junceum (Spanish Broom). Will grow almost anywhere.

Spiraea of sorts. There is a great variety of these beautiful flowering shrubs.

Symphoricarpus racemosus (s...o...b..rry).

Syringa (Lilac) of sorts.

Tamarix gallica and T. tetrandra. Delightful shrubs for seaside.

Ulex europaeus (Furze or Gorse), with the double-flowered and dwarf kinds.

Viburnum Opulus and V. Opulus sterile (s...o...b..ll tree).

Weigelas of sorts, particularly Abel Carriere, candida, and Eva Rathke.

For the west of England and other very mild districts the following may be added:--

Aralia Sieboldii.

Arbutus Unedo (Strawberry tree).

Azara microphylla.

Benthamia fragifera.

Buddleia globosa.

Ceanothus of sorts.

Choisya ternata.

Desfontainea spinosa.

Escallonias of sorts.

Fabiana imbricata.

Fuchsias, hardy kinds.

Garrya elliptica.

Grevillea rosmarinifolia, G. sulphurea.

Griselinia littoralis.

Hydrangea Hortensia.

Laurus n.o.bilis (Sweet Bay).

Myrtus communis (Myrtle).

Pittosporum cra.s.sifolium.

Rhamnus Alaternus and varieties.

Veronicas of sorts.

Viburnum Tinus (Laurustinus).

CHAPTER XV

TREES AND SHRUBS FOR WIND-SWEPT GARDENS

Few trees and shrubs are happy in bleak and exposed gardens. The hardiest should be used to form a shelter belt, as every leaf and twig helps to break the force of the wind, whereas solid obstacles, such as walls, merely serve to divert its course. In planting spots much exposed to the wind, put the trees much closer than it is intended they should remain permanently, as the young plants serve to shelter one another, and encourage, therefore, a quicker growth. When they get crowded, gradually thin them out. The trees and shrubs should always come from exposed nurseries, as the growth is stout and st.u.r.dy. Growth made in warm valleys is more sappy. The following trees and shrubs can be depended upon in most windy places:--

TREES

Acer platanoides (Norway Maple) and Acer Pseudo-plata.n.u.s (Sycamore).

While not equal to some of the trees mentioned, these Maples do well in many places and form a distinct feature.

Betula alba (Common Birch). An extremely graceful tree and a universal favourite.

Crataegus Oxyacantha (Hawthorn). The princ.i.p.al effect of exposure is to make the growth more stunted than would otherwise be the case.

f.a.gus sylvatica (Beech). Long recognised as a good shelter tree, its value in this respect is increased by the fact that many leaves often shrivel on the branches instead of dropping, thus giving additional protection in winter.

Fraxinus Excelsior (Ash). The wide-spreading roots of this anchor it securely in position, and the leaves do not weigh down the branches to any great extent.

Ilex Aquifolium (Holly). Though of slow growth when young, this, when once established, grows away freely and is indifferent to wind.

Larix europaea (Larch). This is well known as a nurse tree for bleak places.

Picea (Abies) excelsa (Norway Spruce). One of our commonest Conifers, hence it is often used as a nurse tree for choicer subjects.

Pinus austriaca (Austrian Fir). The best of all evergreens for bleak places; Pinus Cembra (Swiss Stone Pine), of slow growth, but very ornamental, and does not mind the wind.