494 



HORTICULTURE 



October 7, 1911 



Some Autumn Flowering Shrubs 



Although the large majority of flowering shrubs pro- 

 duce their blossoms during the spring and early summer 

 months there is also a considerable oumber which are 

 seen a1 their besl until the fall, and when one con- 

 siders whal a large number of people there are who 

 spend this season ear at their countrj estates it 



is surprising thai this section is aol given more atten- 

 tion. 



Ilarih flowering shrubs are undoubtedly becoming 

 ever } year more popular, a step certainly in the right 

 direction, and the} possess many advantages over the 

 softer bedding plants heretofore so much employed. 

 These, though useful and beautiful in their season, are 



onlj g I Eor a short tunc and demand a considerable 



amount of attention, whereas flowering shrubs when 

 established may be considered permanent and necessi- 

 tate but little labor to maintain them in good condition. 

 The varieties mentioned here include some of the 

 best for park and garden use and all of them may be 



considered i ■< tl] hard] as far north as Magnolia, 



M asSi \,,nh of this it is probable thai some might re- 

 quire slight protection in winter bu1 1 shall make special 

 refereno i se and even if it should prove no - 



hi annually they are such beautiful 

 additions thai all who appreciate their value would 

 willin petuate them. 



To !■:. II. Wilson we are indi ited for a large oumber 

 of new and mei shrubs and it is very 



ifying to find that man) of these now in cultivation 

 a \ \ aold Arboretum flower during the late sum- 



mer and autumn months. The most remarkable of 

 these are the varieties of Buddleia variabilis and for 

 ornamental planting - ither on a large or small scale 



uo i i beautiful shrubs exist. Some members of the 



genu- Buddleia have been known in gardens for many 

 - I::i\ ing been introduced to Europe al- 

 , century and a half ago. but Si-'\v of them were 

 ficiently hardy to become generally cultivated out-of- 

 doors in this country. The g a very interesting 

 one and geographically covers a wide range, some mem- 

 bers being found in America, Asia, Africa and else- 

 where. As greenhouse plants some are of great merit. 

 two or three from Central China discovered by Mr. 

 Wilson bi ing spei tally valuable, and I hope to refer to 

 the- qi ar future. 



,\ form - ! Buddleia variabilis with pale purple flow- 

 ers and pro-irate growth In- been known to science for 

 some years but as a garden plant it is of little value. 

 Wilson's form of tl superior shrub with up- 



hahit and long cylindrical tails of bloom and is 

 the forerunner of several remarkable varieties. Those 

 that have received names up to the present time are 

 magnifiea, Veitchiana, Wilsoniana and superba. Though 

 all of these arc equally meritorious the first named is 

 perhaps the most notewortl counl of its remark- 



or. The individual flower- in all the forms of 

 Buddleia variabilis are quite small, noi measuring more 



than an eighth of an inch in diameter luil they are pro- 

 duced in great profusion at the terminal of the main 

 stems and the numerous side branches. The (lowers of 

 magnifiea are bright rosy-purple with a conspicuous 

 orange eye and the edges of the petals are reflexed. It 

 commences to flower about the middle of August and 

 continues till the end of September. Veitchiana 

 flowers a week or so earlier and grows a foot or so 



taller, with a re upright habit, but the stems droop 



gracefully when the flowers commence to open. These 

 are a deep lavender shade and the center bright orange. 



Wilsoniana is an exceptionally fine variety from five 

 to seven feet in height and the flowering portion of the 

 stem is frequently from thirty to forty inches in length. 

 The color is rosy-lilac with a deep orange eye. The 

 other variety — superba, though not so tall-growing as 

 the preceding, is of exceptional merit. The side Btems 

 are produced freely from the ground and each termi- 

 nates in a rounded tail of bright rose flowers, which 

 contrast ver] effectively with the deep green foliage. 



Buddleia albiflora, another specie- from < Ien1 ral < Ihina, 

 bles B. variabilis and grows from five to eight feet 

 in height. The foliage is'dark green above and silvery 

 grey beneath and the flowers, in spite of the specific 

 name, are lilac in color with an orange throat and 

 sweetly scented. It commences to flower in duly, but 

 the numerous side branches maintain a succession of 

 bloom well into Septem 



Buddleia nivea from Western China is not orna- 

 mental from a flowering standpoint but is worth grow- 

 ing for its ornamental foliage. The stems and under 

 side of the leaves are densely clothed with white, silky 

 hairs which make the plant quite attractive. It will 

 grow seven feet high and the flowers are pink in short 



ai I llle-. 



The four varieties of 11. variabilis mentioned above 

 are all extremely easj to cultivate, a good loamy soil 

 and open sunny position with plenty of water in the 

 growing season suiting them to perfection. Although 

 the stem> frequently die down to the ground in winter 

 this is no draw-back for if they do not it is advisable to 

 prune them right down in the spring so that an annual 

 growth i- obtained. North of Magnolia 1 would advise 

 taking up the roots in winter and storing them in a 

 cool cellar. 



Propagation is very simple either by cuttings inserted 

 in September, which make nice flowering plants the fol- 

 lowing year, or by seed sown any time after it is ripe, in 

 a gentle heat. To perpetuate these varieties cuttings 

 mii-i be employed as B. variabilis varies considerably 

 from seed. As these plants have great potential value 

 the raising of seedlings is to be recommended as varie- 

 differing widely in color and time of flowering are 

 i ertain to he evolved. As bees are very partial to them 

 and they hybridise freely the best colors only should 

 be kept so that inferior ones do not detract from them. 

 As single specimens or for bedding in parks and open 

 few plants are superior to these and there is 

 undoubtedly a greal future before them. 



