ic6 



IRISH GARDENING 



Viburnums. 



SOiME of the most attractive shrubs in June are 

 the Viburnums, the best of which iiower at tliis 

 season. Generally speaking, ine mosi attractive 

 species are deciduous though the e -ergreens are 

 of considerable merit for their foliage. There is 

 not much difficulty in cultivation but good soil 

 is essential to proper development; poor, dry soil 

 results in stunted growth and a poor display of 

 flowers. Slielter is necessary for such species as 

 V. rhytidophyllum. whose large handsome rugose 

 leaves suffer in exposed positions, and V. macro- 

 cephalum. which, though Chinese, and discovered 

 long ago by Robert Fortune, is tender a-i I should 

 be planted in a sunny position protected from 

 harsh east and north winds. 



A large luunber of «ew species have been mtro- 

 (iuced from China during the last decade or so. 

 and some distinct and useful shrubs are included 

 among them, and some of not very much garden 

 value. The following selection includes some of 

 the best that have come under the writer's observa- 

 tion but by no means includes all the species 

 amenable to cultivation in the open ;n tius 

 country. 



It may l)e a convenience to separate them into 

 evergreen and deciduous species as a guide to 

 intending planters. 



Evergreens. 



T'. curiaccum forms a large bush and has every 

 appearance of making a small tree if encouraged 

 to develop in that direction. The flowers are 

 white, produced in corymlis from July onwards, 

 but are not of much decorative merit. The leaves, 

 however, are large and handsome, up to six inches 

 (jr more in length and half as wide, and of a 

 [x'culiar blue-grey colour on the upper surface, 

 due to the presence of a wa.xy layer which comes 

 nff when rubbed. A native of China and the 

 Himalaya this makes a distinct plant for a large 

 shrubbery and would doubtless do well in an open 

 woodland or margin of a plantation. 



V. JtiirUJW forms a low compact nu^ss though 

 spreading laterally to some extent. The leaves 

 are of good texture, shining dark green above and 

 in shade, at least six inches long and about a 

 third as wide. The flowers are not of nuich 

 account, being whitish, but as a low evergreen for 

 a shady position this species is quite desirable. 

 Introduced from China some fourteen or fifteen 

 years ago. V. Davidii is now fairly well known in 

 collections. 



V. (hiiKi iitfiinifoliuin is said to be allied to the 

 above but differs in habit, being more erect, 

 with every appearance of ultimately reaching 

 a considerable height. The leaves also are not so 

 large but nevertheless attractive, and in its way 

 it may be more useful than V. Davidii. 



r. Hdrrjjauiiin is quite an attractive species of 

 neat habit, the })ranches clothed with roundish 

 iivate leaves half an inch or so long and deej) 

 dark green in colour. The flowers produced in 

 umbels are wiJiite and not unattractive. 



r. Jlrnij/i is a most distinct shrub said to reach 

 a considerable height, but here at least not 

 nourishing and suffering badly each winter. Else- 

 where in Ireland, however, I have seen it doing 

 well. The narrow, oblong leaves are dark lustrous 

 green above, while the inflorescence is distinctly 

 ))ranched in the form of a panicle. The flowers 

 are not particularly showy but are followed by 

 red fruits, which ultimately become black. 



V. odoratiss'nnum is better known in Irish 

 gardens as V. Awafuki, and is a handsome ever- 

 green, particularly where it can be grown in the 

 open; in many places it requires the shelter of a 

 shady wall. When growing well the leaves will 

 make quite six inches in length and nearly half as 

 wide, and are of a fine glossy green colour The 

 flowers are white and sweetly scented, produced 

 in large panicles, but not very freely as far as I 

 have seen. Certainly one of the best evergreen 

 species for mild districts, and worthy of wall cul- 

 ture where the climate is less favourable. 



T'. projiinqvuni is one of the Chinese set intro- 

 duced from China by E. H. Wilson on several 

 occasions. It was thought to be less hardy than 

 some, and was given a sheltered position but 

 rapidly outgrew its space, and other plants in the 

 open are proving quite hardy. Quite an interesting 

 addition to the Viburnums, but of no outstanding 

 merit so far as my experience goes. 



V. rJij/fidipJiyllum has received, perhaps, more 

 attention than most of the newer Chinese species, 

 and is certainly a handsome and striking ever- 

 green when growing in good soil in a sheltered 

 position. It is perfectly hardy, but the large 

 leaves, seven or eight or more inches long, suffer 

 from harsh winds in winter, and in these circum- 

 stances present rather a miserable appearance. 

 Where happy, however, the large, deejjly-wrinkled 

 leaves always attract attention. The flowers are 

 produced in large flatfish vunbels and remain in 

 the bud state during winter, expanding in spring, 

 and followed in autiunn by red fruits soon becom- 

 ing l)iack. The ornamental valu? of this species 

 lies in the leaves. 



V. Thius only calls for passing reference. As 

 Lam-ustinus it is w.{?ll known in nearly every Irish 

 garden, and is not exceeded in general usefulness 

 by any other species new or old ; in fact, very few 

 can equal it. Hardy, evergreen and free flowering 

 over a long period in early s])ring, what more 

 could l)e asked of any shrub ! We are apt to be 

 carried away in our enthusiasm for new things, 

 but all reasonable people will agree that no new 

 species supersedes the La\u-ustinus. 



T". utile is a spare habited shrub with rather 

 slender branc-hes and snuillish leaves one, two or 

 more inches long and white on the under surface. 

 The flowers are produced in May, as is usual at the 

 ends of the branches, and are white but not 

 particularly showy. The fruits are dark blue or 

 nearly i)lack. This plant has lived in the open 

 but f am not convinced of its hardiness. 



Deciduous Species. 



T'. hcf iilifiilhim seems likely to make a useful 

 shrub and is one of Wilson's introductions from 

 China. The brownish l)ranches bear leaves two 

 or three inches long and varying somewhat in 

 shape. They are dark green above, rather paler 

 beneath, and though not renuirkable a well 

 grown bush is distinct. The flowers are white, 

 not partiinilarly attractive, but are followed by 

 red fruits in autumn. 



T'. buddleifoUum is not so entirely deciduous as 

 most of the other species under this heading. In 

 sheltered positions at least it will carry some of 

 the old leaves right through till spring. The leaves 

 are quit(> handsome, up to four or five inches long, 

 broadly lance shaped and felted below, and with 

 hairs iilso on the upper surface. Flowers white 

 a,ud fruits black. This will in time make a useful 

 shrub. 



V. Cnrhsii. lately written of in this Joiunal. is 

 one of the most attractive spring flowering shrubs 

 in the garden. In habit it is somewhat sparse and 



