MY SHRUBS 93 



This great genus makes splendid growth on our shores, and most 

 of the Australian and New Zealand species thrive and attain to 

 mature size. 



Than P. crassifolium there is no more elegant and beautiful 

 foliage shrub in any garden. I have a seedling ten years old and 

 10 feet high of most beautiful shape. In spring myriads of little 

 chocolate-coloured bells appear among the leaves, and seed ripens. 

 P. eugenioides is another New Zealander which attains to great size 

 and is too large for a small garden, but a treasure for a big 

 one. I have a small piece of the variegated form of this, and 

 P. Tohira I also have with white variegation — one of the most 

 beautiful shrubs I know. The type of P. Tohira has attained 

 to full size under an araucaria in a sheltered spot. On Christmas 

 Day it was in full flower — every point bright with creamy and 

 fragrant umbels. P. patulum is the last of the genus to appear 

 with me, and thus far proves a dingy object and leaves me 

 cold. But she is young, and may have some surprises hidden. 

 There are many other varieties of this beautiful race which I 

 have not seen. 



Plagianthus Lyallii is another worthy New Zealander which 

 has given great delight to friends in my garden. The serrated, 

 drooping foliage on bending boughs is beautiful in itself, and the 

 snow-white flowers, like cherry blossom, crowd its wands in July. 

 There is no more splendid thing in any garden when prosperous. 

 With me it stands against a 9-foot wall and has far over- topped it. 

 In a hard winter it loses most of its foliage, but is none the worse. 

 The ground beneath it was green with seedlings this spring. Other 

 varieties of Plagianthus are inferior, so be sure you secure LyalFs. 

 High botanists now doubt if this most notable shrub is a Plagianthus 



