FLOWERING SHRUBS FOR LAWNS. 



Fig. 171'» — Wigelia Variegata (spray). 



^^ P^HE introduction to the notice 

 of horticulturists of some that 

 are now considered as being 

 amongst our commonest flow- 

 ering shrubs, dates as far back as the 

 1 6th century ; the Philadelphus corona- 

 rius, better known as Mock Orange is 

 among the first spoken of in horti- 

 cultural records, being brought from 

 South Europe about the year 1596. 

 The Hibiscus Syriacus, or as sometimes 

 erroneously termed Althea Syriacus, was 

 introduced from Syria at about the same 

 period ; the many beautiful varieties of 

 this plant, with their glossy green foliage 

 and showy flowers, that brighten up our 

 lawns during the scorching hot days of 

 August when most other shrubs look 

 bare and desolate, are, with few excep- 

 tions, hybrids raised from this variety. 

 The small but free flowering Syringa 

 Persica, or Persian lilac, is supposed to 

 have been brought from Persia about 

 the year 1640. By some authorities 



Syringa Persica and Syringa Chine nsis 

 are thought to be identical with each 

 other, the latter being introduced from 

 China about a century ago. Notwith- 

 standing the lapse of centuries interven- 

 ing since these varieties were intro- 

 duced, they still hold a place amongst 

 the many beautiful varieties of these 

 useful shrubs that have been more re- 

 cently introduced. The lovely Japanese 

 and Chinese lilacs as well as the beau- 

 tiful hybrids brought into notice by 

 British and Continental growers, with 

 their showy spikes of single and double 

 flowers varying in color from pure white 

 to deep purple, combined with their 

 compact habit recommend them strong- 

 ly as being more suitable for ornament- 

 ing lawns than some of the older varie- 

 ties ; many of these latter, being of a 

 more loose, straggling growth are not 

 as well suited for planting on small 

 lawns. 



The Berheris Canadensis and Diervilla 

 or Wigelia Canadensis were introduced 

 about 1796, theLonicera tartarica, bet- 

 ter known perhaps as the Tartarian 

 Honeysuckle, was brought into notice 

 at about the same date. The present 

 almost completed century has been very 

 productive in adding to the now almost 

 innumerable list of flowering shrubs ; 

 the gradual opening up of comparatively 

 new countries, principally in Asia, hav- 

 ing given us by far the greater propor- 

 tion of the new varieties now seen grow- 

 ing on lawns. China, Japan, Burmah, 

 the Himalaya mountains, as well as the 

 states of Nepaul and Bhotan adjoining 

 Northern India have contributed the 

 most varieties, and in some cases the 

 entire genus of some that are now con- 

 sidered almost common varieties, such 

 as the Hydrangea paniculata grandi- 



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