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GARDEISERS' CHRONICLE 



Shrubs and Vines for Seaside Homes 



FLORUM AMATOR 



SOjME rears ago we were requested by a larj;e inland 

 nursery company to gather, from personal ob- 

 servation chiefly, such facts as we were able as 

 regards what shrubs, trees, vines and herbaceous 

 plants were best for seaside locations. 



The result of those observations is that when any one 

 asks us what shrubs will grow in seaside locations, our 

 invariable answer is any which grow inland in approxi- 

 mately the same latitude and soil, and often others also. 

 We, however, have to qualify this answer by stating that 

 a limited number of shrubs which thrive inland will not 

 grow quite as well at the seashore ; that a moderate num- 

 ber are more at home near the seashore than inland, and 

 that a large majority grows as satisfactorily at the seaside 

 as in the interior, though as a rule somewhat more slowly. 



To define the phrase, seaside location from a shrub 

 planting point of view is somewhat difficult. We mean 

 by these words that section of more or less fertile and 

 well drained land, near the sea, but back a little from 

 the sandy or rocky seashore itself and the sweep of the 

 high tides. 



There is indeed a limited numljer of shrubs, mostly 

 natives, of which we will speak later, which live, making 

 a slow growth, in the sand and among the rocks very 

 near the water where the high tide sometimes sweeps up 

 around them and the salt spray drenches them. 



The Barricades 



The lirst act in seaside planting is to erect our barri- 

 cades, that is, to plant along our boundary lines a thick 

 hedge of such shrubs as thrive at the seaside and are 

 suitable for that purpose. This hedge shelters from the 

 direct violence of the winds, which are the most 

 hostile of all factors in seaside planting, ■ the other dis- 

 tinctly ornamental flowering and foliage shrubs which 

 are planted within its boundaries and which are less able 

 than the hedge shrubs to withstand the wind's force. 

 These hedge shrubs must be such as are entirely at home 

 at the seaside. Shrubs with small leaves, too, are prefer- 

 able, because the wind sifts through these, but does not 

 break or blow them over. Privets and Tamarisks make 

 the best seaside hedges. Of these Privets and Tamarisks 

 we will speak later. Usually a hedge on the boundary 

 farthest from the sea is not a necessity, but a matter of 

 choice. 



Deciduous Shrubs 



From the shrubs which are most at home at the sea- 

 side and those that grow approximately as well there as 

 inland we naturally make our selections for seaside plant- 

 ing. Furthermore, if we occupy our seaside cottages only 

 in the Summer, we choose out of the above classes those 

 chiefly which bloom during the period from June first 

 to October first. 



It requires a considerable number of years for trees at 

 the seaside to grow to a moderate size. On the other 

 hand, shrubs planted at the seashore become established 

 and constitute a pleasing environment of our seaside 

 homes in a comparatively short time. 



Lilacs, which we should speak of as Syringas, as that 

 is their true name, are very much at home at the seaside, 

 and are invigorated by the salt air, and the cool sea 

 breezes. These bloom from mid-May till mid-June, 

 lading the air with sweet perfume. Some bear double 

 and others single flowers in many shades of pink, purple 

 and white. One of the earliest shrubs planted in colonial 



gardens of America was Syringa vulgaris, the common 

 purple Lilac, which was introduced from England, and 

 soon from these colonial gardens was disseminated 

 through the towns and over the countryside, becoming 

 the most familiar of all shrubs in the farmers' door vards. 

 W'hile we still plant this species, and its white variety. 

 alba, in limited numbers, we select chiefly from the nu- 

 merous beautiful single and double hybrid varieties of 

 vulgaris, which are mostly the results of the labors of 

 French botanists and horticulturists, but can be purchased 

 of all American nurserymen who make a specialty of the 

 ornamentals. 



Spiraeas are excellent for seaside locations. The earlier 

 flowering species, which bloom freely in May, nearly all 

 bear white flowers, and give but one crop of blooms in a 

 season. The later blooming species, which are more de- 

 sirable for the seaside, for the most part give their first 

 crop of blooms in June and July ; these, however, usually 

 between June and mid-October give several other smaller 

 crops of flowers, if after each crop, all withered blossoms 

 are cut off and the ends of the branches cut back a few 

 inches at the same time. To this Summer flowering 

 group belong Spircea. Anthony Watcrer, S. bumalda, S. 

 billardii, S. tomentosa, a native species, 5". callosa and 

 callosa alba. Other desirable Summer flowering species, 

 which, however, bloom but once in a season, are Spircra 

 Van Houttci and S. Rccfcsiana, blooming in June, and 

 .S". ArgHta and 6". Donglasi, blooming in July and August. 

 Spiraeas are very suitable for rather close planting in 

 groups or beds, and S. Anthony Watcrer, planted closely, 

 makes an attractive low hedge. 



The Tamarisk, botanically known as Tamarix, of all 

 shrubs either foreign or native, is one of the most dis- 

 tinctly seaside-loving plants. There are four species, 

 Tamarix afrkana and T. gallica, which bloom in the 

 Spring, and T. japonica plumosa and T. indica, which 

 flower in Autumn. Though Tamarisks appreciate a rich 

 soil, they will thrive even in the sand so close to the 

 shore that the salt spray at times drenches them. These 

 shrubs have long been favorites in European countries 

 for seaside locations. Their small, almost needle-like, 

 dark green leaves allow the winds to sift through them 

 and consequently not to break them down. As a hedge 

 plant for surrounding grounds which are very near the 

 seashore, and protecting them from winds and salt spray. 

 Tamarisks are almost unequaled among deciduous 

 shrubs. As this shrub endures pruning well, it can be 

 stopped at any desired height and kept in a symmetrical 

 form, and it should be so treated for pleasing results. 

 The almost innumerable, very small light pink flowers of 

 the Tamarisks are quite pretty and sprays of them are 

 excellent for table decoration. Tamarisks through proper 

 pnming can easily be made to grow singly as small trees. 



As a foliage shrub, nearly evergreen, for seashore 

 hedges or groups, the Privet, both the California, 

 Ligustruin ovaiifolium, and other species, L. ibota and 

 L. regelianum. thrives remarkably well ; indeed better 

 than in inland locations ; so well in fact that we are 

 obliged to lay aside our prejudice against this shrub, be- 

 cause hedges of it are ubiquitous and therefore somewhat 

 monotonous. 



The Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriaciis, both the single 

 and double flowered varieties in their several colors, red, 

 pink, purple, white and variegated, flourish near the sea. 

 This is a symmetrical shrub, and flowers in September, 

 when almost all shrubs have ceased blooming. This, too, 



