468 DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. 



This variety has poplar-shaped leaves, of a light clear green 

 color ; globular clusters of small white flowers in June and July , 

 and small, round, dark-blue fruit. Height four to six feet. It is a 

 lively-toned, well-leaved shrub, in the New York Central Park. 



THE DOWNY VIBURNUM, V. pubescens. A downy-leaved south- 

 ern shrub. Height three feet. Flowers white ; June and July. 



FIG. 159. 



THE WEIGELA. Weigela. 



This noble shrub, which was introduced from Japan as late as 

 1843, nas already found a place in most home-grounds from Maine 

 to California. Its robust habit, profuse bloom, and easy culture, 

 have combined to rank it in popular estimation with those dear 

 old shrubs the lilacs and the honeysuckles. The foliage is, how- 

 ever, less smooth and elegant, and more allied to that of the syrin- 

 gas and deutzias ; and like these shrubs, the bushes as they grow 

 old break into fine masses of light and shade. Most of the weige- 

 las are erect when young, but form graceful, bending, wide-spread- 

 ing bushes when old, where they have room for expansion. The 

 varieties are increasing rapidly in number, and though June and 

 F , July are their natural blooming season 



at the north, sporting plants are being 

 propagated which will add greatly to the 

 length of their blooming time and the 

 variety of their colors. The following 

 are among the best sorts: 

 THE ROSE WEIGELA. W. rosea. The original species. Fig. 

 159 shows the characteristic form of a bush four or five years 



