For April, 1920 



141 



Twelve Most Desirable Shrubs for Gardens 



ARTHUR SMITH 



In devising a planting scheme some considerable 

 thought should be given to it, and from several points 

 of view the smaller the place the greater the amount 

 of thought which is required, especially with regard 

 to the selection of species. The common fault which 

 one sees is the planting of too many species and over- 

 crowding. 



At this time it is not possible to discuss the ques- 

 tion of ornamental planting as a whole, but in view of 

 the fact that over-crowded shrubberies are the weak 

 spot in many gardens, it appears worth while to set 

 forth a few of the easiest grown things among shrubs 

 with a view of assisting those desirous of making a 

 selection among those enumerated in the extensive, 

 and (to some) confusing lists found in nursery 

 catalogs. 



Out of hundreds of shrubs we will select a dozen 

 which may be classed as indispensable, and which are 

 easily grown and hardy in the northeast. 



As being the earliest to bloom Forsythia must be 

 mentioned first. Of this there are several well known 

 species but the best for all-round purposes is fortnnei. 



Following this is the beautiful and deservedly 

 popular Lilac, which most people would plant if they 

 had room for only one. There are many species and 

 varieties, but care must be taken never to plant grafted 

 plants as there is no excuse for any other than own- 

 rooted ones being used. It is a common practice to 

 graft upon privet or other common stocks, the suckers 

 from which are worse than useless. The old European 

 vub^aris is the most sweet scented, of which there are 

 both white and purple flowering kinds. Of late years 

 the Lemoine hybrids have been more used as they 

 have larger flowers and spikes, but many of them are 

 scentless. Among the best of the hybrids are Marie 

 Legraye (white) and Gigantea (bluish). 



There are many Spirsas suitable for the home gar- 

 den, but the best is perhaps 5". Thiinbcrgii, which grows 

 up to five feet tall and flowers in April and May ; it has 

 additional value on account of its foliage turning in the 

 Autumn to a brilliant orange and scarlet. Another 

 good one is S. van Honttci, considered by some to be 

 preferable to the former. It grows somewhat taller and 

 flowers a little later. The smallest garden has room for 

 the pretty little Bumalda, variety Anthony Waterer. It 

 only grows about two feet high, and two crops of its 

 bright crimson flowers may be obtained by cutting off 

 the first spikes as soon as they are over. For the best 

 results it should be cut nearly to the ground each year. 

 Its young foliage is prettily marked with white and 

 crimson. 



There are few shrubs more satisfactory in various 

 directions than the Japanese Rarberr>' (Bcrbcris Thun- 

 bergii). It is cast iron in its hardiness, and for a hedge 

 which is not required taller than four feet it is' the best 

 plant. Its bright green foliage ajijiears in the Spring 

 before anything else ; this is followed by yellow flowers. 

 In the Fall the foliage changes to a pleasing shade of 

 red, and its scarlet berries remain on until after the new 

 Spring growth. As with other shrubs, it is spoiled by 

 shearing; any reduction in size required may be done by 

 cutting out the older growth close to the ground. 



Room should always be found for at least one plant 

 of Hydrangea arborescens. Its white flowers are borne 



with profusion after ]\lid-Summer, and they last well 

 when cut. It reaches the height of about three feet and 

 is another shrub which should be cut nearly to the ground 

 each \-ear for tlie best results. 



Bush Honeysuckles are easy to grow, but require a 

 good deal of room, as they may ultimately reach a 

 height of ten or twelve feet and of even greater spread. 

 The species known as Lonicera Morrozui is the best, 

 which bears a profusion of rather small light pink 

 flowers, followed by bright red fruit. 



A spreading shrub of medium height is Dicrvilla, 

 otherwise known as Wcigclia. This bears an abundance 

 of flowers during early Summer. There are several 

 species and varieties worth planting having flowers rang- 

 ing from white to very dark red, among which can be 

 recommended Le Printemps as an early pink, and Eva 

 Ratlikc as a late red. 



Among the several good kinds of Dcntzia the best for 

 a small garden is undoubtedly Lcmoinci, which grows 

 into a close, rounded form and in May is absolutely 

 covered with a mass of pure white flowers. Crenata and 

 its varieties are good where shrubs six feet tall are 

 required, of these Pride of Rochester is a good one, 

 having large double flowers tinged with pink. 



Undoubtedly it would be an impossibility to find an 

 old-fashioned garden without a Syringa or Mock Orange 

 (PhiladclpJius). and there are few who would desire its 

 absence, not only on account of memories of the past, 

 but also by reason of its fragrant white flowers and its 

 alwys clean foliage. Its ultimate height causes it to 

 look best at the back of dwarfer plants, and also because 

 it has a tendency to grow bare of foliage at the bottom. 

 This may be, however, to a great extent guarded against 

 by aimually cutting out the oldest wood close to the 

 ground. The tallest and most deliciously fragrant is 

 P. coronarius, but the Mont Blanc variety of Lcmoinei 

 has larger flowers, which are borne more freely, but they 

 are not quite so strongly scented. 



While roses, in the forms of hybrid teas, remontants 

 and such like, have to be specially cared for in a border 

 or garden by themselves, there are some that may be 

 classed as shrubs, and in fact are only fitted for a shrub- 

 bery border. For this purpose Rugosa is the best, and 

 it has now varieties with flowers varj'ing in color from 

 white, through pink, to red. Its foliage always keeps 

 in good condition and its large crimson fruit adds to its 

 pleasing features. When it is required to cover a fence 

 or unsightly shed the native Prairie Rose, Rosa setigera, 

 is very suitable, as it is a rampant grower and its pink 

 arid white flowers are produced in July when most of the 

 climbing roses are over. 



Our next selection is Viburnum, a genus which is per- 

 haps best known by the Snowballs and the old Guelder 

 Rose, in some of which the foliage is not very satis- 

 factory, and in any case the single-flowered kinds are 

 preferable because they also produce ornamental fruit. 

 The native Viburnum opulus Americana grows eight 

 feet tall, and its berries remain all Winter; its brilliant 

 .\utuinn foliage gives it another valuable feature. The 

 best native .species is V. cassinoides, which is also the 

 best suited for small gardens. It is very hardy, as it is 

 found near the Arctic Circle. Its fruit ultimately be- 

 comes bluish-black, and is very- handsome : a singular 

 and really good feature connected with its fruiting stage 

 is that the fruit does not ripen all at once, so that green. 



