Manual of Gardening Part 38

Downy hydrangea, _H. radiata._(A)

Attractive in both foliage and flower.

Oak-leaved hydrangea, _H. quercifolia._(A)

This is especially valuable for its luxuriant foliage; even if killed to the ground in winter, it is still worth cultivating for its strong shoots.

The greenhouse hydrangea (_H. hortensis_ in many forms) may be used as an outdoor subject in the South.

St. John's wort, _Hyperic.u.m Kalmianum,(A)(DD) H. prolific.u.m,_(A) and _H.

Moserianum._

Small undershrubs, producing bright yellow flowers in profusion in July and August; 2-4 ft.

Winter-berry, _Ilex verticillata._(A)(DD)

Produces showy red berries, that persist through the winter; should be ma.s.sed in rather low ground; flowers imperfect; 6-8 ft.

The evergreen hollies are not suitable for cultivation in the North; but in the warmer lat.i.tudes, the American holly (_Ilex opaca_), English holly (_I. Aquifolium_), and j.a.panese holly (_I. crenata_) may be grown.

There are several native species.

Mountain laurel, _Kalmia latifolia._(A)

One of the best shrubs in cultivation, evergreen, 5-10 ft., or even becoming a small tree south; usually profits by partial shade; thrives in a peaty or loamy rather loose soil, and said to be averse to limestone and clay; extensively transferred from the wild for landscape effects in large private places; should thrive as far north as it grows wild.

Kerria, corchorus, _Kerria j.a.ponica._ A bramble-like shrub, producing attractive yellow single or double flowers from July until September; twigs very green in winter. There is a variegated-leaved form. Good for banks and borders; 2-3 ft.

Sand myrtle, _Leiophyllum buxifolium._(A) Evergreen, more or less proc.u.mbent; 2-3 ft.

Lespedeza, _Lespedeza bicolor._(DD) Reddish or purple small flowers in late summer and fall; 4-8 ft.

Lespedeza, _L. Sieboldii_ (_Desmodium penduliflorum_).(DD) Rose-purple large flowers in fall; killed to the ground in winter, but it blooms the following year; 4-5 ft.

Lespedeza, _L. j.a.ponica_ (_Desmodium j.a.ponic.u.m_). Flowers white, later than those of _L. Sieboldii;_ springs up from the root.

Privet, _Ligustrum vulgare, L. ovalifolium_ (_L. Californic.u.m_), and _L.

Amurense._(DD) Much used for low hedges and borders; 4-12 ft.; several other species.

Tartarian honeysuckle, _Lonicera Tatarica._(DD) One of the most chaste and comely of shrubs; 6-10 ft.; pink-flowered; several varieties.

Regel's honeysuckle, _L. spinosa_ (_L. Alberti_).(DD) Blooms a little later than above, pink; 2-4 ft.

Fragrant honeysuckle, _L. fragrantissima._ Flowers exceedingly fragrant, preceding leaves; 2-6 ft.; one of the earliest things to bloom in spring. There are other upright honeysuckles, all interesting.

Mock-orange (Syringa incorrectly), _Philadelphus coronarius._(DD) In many forms and much prized; 6-12 ft. Other species are in cultivation, but the garden nomenclature is confused. The forms known as _P.

speciosus, P. grandiflorus,_ and var. _speciosissimus_(DD) are good; also the species _P. p.u.b.escens,_(A) _P. Gordonia.n.u.s,_(A) and _P.

microphyllus,_(A) the last being dwarf, with small white very fragrant flowers.

Nine-bark, _Physocarpus opulifolius_ (_Spiraea opulifolia_).(A) A good vigorous hardy bush, with cl.u.s.ters of interesting pods following the flowers; the var. _aurea_ (DD) is one of the best yellow-leaved shrubs; 6-10 ft.

Andromeda, _Pieris floribunda._(A)

A small ericaceous evergreen; should have some protection from the winter sun; for this purpose, it may be planted on the north side of a clump of trees; 2-6ft.

Shrubby cinquefoil, _Potentilla fruticosa._(A)(DD)

Foliage ashy; flowers yellow, in June; 2-4 ft.

Sand cherry, _Prunus pumila_(A) and _P. Besseyi._(A)

The sand cherry of sandy sh.o.r.es grows 5-8 ft.; the western sand cherry (_P. Besseyi_) is more spreading and is grown for its fruit. The European dwarf cherry (_P. fruticosa_) is 2-4 ft., with white flowers in umbels.

Flowering almond, _Prunus j.a.ponica._

In its double-flowered form, familiar for its early bloom; 3-5 ft; often grafted on other stocks, which are liable to sprout and become troublesome.

Hop-tree, _Ptelea trifoliata._(A)

Very interesting when bearing its roundish winged fruits; 8-10 ft., but becoming larger and tree-like.

Buckthorn, _Rhamnus cathartica._

Much used for hedges; 8-12 ft.

Alpine buckthorn, _R. alpina._

Foliage attractive; 5-6 ft.

Rhododendron, _Rhododendron Catawbiense_(A) and garden varieties.

Hardy in well-adapted locations, 3-8 ft., and higher in its native regions.

Great laurel, _R. maximum_(A)

A fine species for ma.s.s planting, native as far north as southern Canada. Extensively transplanted from the wild.

White kerria, _Rhodotypos kerrioides._

White flowers in May and blackish fruit; 3-5 ft.

Smoke-tree (Fringe-tree erroneously), _Rhus Cotinus._

One of the best shrubs for ma.s.sing; two colors are grown; the billowy "bloom," holding late in the season, is composed of flower stems rather than flowers; size of large lilac bushes.

Dwarf sumac, _R. copallina._(A)

Attractive in foliage, and especially conspicuous in autumn from the brilliant red of its leaves; 3-5 ft., sometimes much taller.